Peter
Hsiao

Successfully defended Mattel, Inc. before U.S. Supreme Court in case arising from contaminated property dispute in Beaverton, Oregon at site of former View Master facility.

Represented IMC Corporation in defending criminal action regarding alleged illegal take of migratory birds from exposure to process ponds. Negotiated settlement and first-ever wildlife mitigation plan with California Department of Fish and Game under Fish and Game Code Section 3007.

Represented Kano Laboratories in an enforcement action by the California Air Resources Board regarding emissive content and labeling of adhesive coatings. 

Represented Mattel, Inc. in relation to volatile organic compound control measures and spray booth issues before South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Served as Port's lead trial counsel in federal court action against citizens group challenging validity of Clean Water Act Section 404 permit and NEPA process for China Shipping Terminal.

Obtained court ordered dismissal of all charges against Thomas Crane Trucking Company in a felony action alleging violations of federal and state law from oil production and servicing operations in the Bolsa Chica area.

Served as lead outside counsel for Shea Homes for stormwater enforcement actions by RWQCB and municipal agencies. Assisted in preparation of SWPPPs and provided counseling and training on wide range of compliance issues and negotiated with citizens' group regarding alleged stormwater releases to Malibu Creek.

Provided legal counsel to the Port of Los Angeles regarding storm water pollution control issues, including advising on the development of new wharf facilities at Pier 100.

Represented Key Energy Services in toxic tort litigation for alleged contamination from TPH and other chemicals in residential neighborhood development in Santa Maria, California. Represented client on appeals to State Water Resources Control Board of orders regarding responsible party status.

Obtained dismissal of criminal charges against Lodi Memorial Hospital related to alleged asbestos removal practices.

Represented the East Bay Regional Park District in a CERCLA case involving a former landfill. Obtained a ruling allocating 95% of the costs to Waste Management, the former owner of the landfill, and only 5% to the Park District, as the site’s current owner.

Served as lead trial counsel in federal court action City and County of San Francisco v. Atlantic Richfield, et al., to clean up historical contamination by numerous tenants at airport. The over $140 million settlement was the largest environmental settlement in California in 2006.

Served as lead trial counsel for the nation's leading diesel engine manufacturers Cummins Engine Company, Inc., John Deere Construction Equipment Company, Detroit Diesel Corp., and Caterpillar, Inc., in the first defense judgment achieved after trial in a Proposition 65 action. 

Served as lead trial counsel to address the nation's largest source of particulate air emissions, the Owens Dry Lake Bed.  Obtained judgment after trial against Department of Water and Power, and settlement in administrative adjudication before California Air Resources Board.  The resulting settlement led to a new State Implementation Plan and shallow flooding of the lake bed. This settlement had a total value in excess of $100 million.

Served as lead counsel for Union Pacific Corporation for the cleanup of the McCormick and Baxter Superfund site due to contamination.  Negotiated a favorable settlement of past cost and future work under a consent decree with U.S. EPA and California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Served as lead trial counsel for 3M Corporation to defend against Superfund action by the State of California regarding the Cal Compact landfill site in Long Beach, California (State of California v. Atlantic Richfield).  Case resulted in favorable settlement for 3M.