Berj K. Parseghian

Bio

Berj Parseghian is a partner in the firm’s Environment & Energy Practice Team. Mr. Parseghian is an experienced litigator who concentrates his practice on lawsuits brought under federal and state environmental laws related to contaminated sites, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the Clean Water Act (CWA), and product liability and toxic tort litigation alleging exposure to chemicals, talc, asbestos, and Legionella. Mr. Parseghian represents energy, chemical, manufacturing, and governmental clients in some of the largest and most complex environmental, product liability, and toxic tort matters across the country. He has significant experience with sites and waterways involving dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), 1, 4-dioxane, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). He has represented clients, as plaintiffs and defendants, in citizen suits under RCRA and the CWA. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and graduate studies in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology.

Prior to joining Lippes Mathias LLP, Mr. Parseghian gained more than 20 years of experience litigating a broad range of complex matters in both courtroom litigation and administrative practice, including environmental, product liability, toxic tort, and energy regulatory matters. He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, chemicals, consumer products, refining, banking, government, healthcare, and beauty products.

Representative Environmental Matters

Lead counsel for a chemical manufacturer in CERCLA cost-recovery and contribution litigation alleging successor liability for dioxin, furan, PCB, and VOC contamination at a Superfund site.
Lead counsel for a chemical manufacturer in connection with the investigation and remediation of an accidental release of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF).
First-chair trial counsel for a petroleum refiner in RCRA citizen suit litigation for alleged petroleum contamination of soil and groundwater.
Lead counsel for a chemical manufacturer in CERCLA cost-recovery and contribution litigation alleging successor liability for 1,4-dioxane contamination at a Superfund site.
Represented a property owner in a CERCLA, RCRA citizen suit, CWA citizen suit, and state common law action alleging contamination of groundwater and surface water.
Lead counsel for a municipality in CERCLA and state common law action alleging nutrient contamination of a lake by point source and non-point source discharges.
Lead counsel for a petroleum refiner in state court and federal multi-district environmental litigation alleging groundwater contamination from leaking underground storage tanks.

Representative Product Liability and Toxic Tort Matters

Obtained summary judgment for a defense contractor in toxic tort litigation alleging workplace exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE).
Obtained summary judgment that was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for a chemical manufacturer in product liability/toxic tort litigation alleging workplace exposure to industrial chemicals.
Obtained summary judgment that was affirmed by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for a semiconductor equipment manufacturer in toxic tort litigation alleging workplace exposure to industrial chemicals.
Lead counsel for a water treatment provider in consolidated toxic tort litigation arising from the 2014/2015 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the Bronx.

Representative Commercial Litigation Matters

Trial counsel for the State of California in a state court jury trial for fraud and breach of contract arising from an energy purchase agreement.
Obtained dismissals with prejudice for financial services providers in federal court Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) litigation.
Represented a commercial bank in the foreclosure of a golf course.
Represented an asset manager in responding to third-party subpoenas.

Articles & Publications

Co-author, "EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances Under CERCLA," May 10, 2024
Co-author, "EPA Finalizes National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Six PFAS," April 26, 2024
Co-author, "2023 PFAs Roundup," December 12, 2023

Environment & Energy
- Environmental Litigation

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

New York
California
District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Veterans Claims
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

Education

UCLA School of Law, J.D., 1998
California Institute of Technology, Graduate Studies in Chemistry
University of Michigan, B.S., Chemistry, 1994

Professional Associations

American Chemical Society

Community Involvement

Arbitrator, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2003-2007

Speaking Engagements

Business Council of New York State's Environmental Conference, Panel Moderator, November 2024
Business Council of New York State's Environmental Conference, Panel Moderator, November 2023
"PFAs and How They Can Affect Your Business," Video, November 2023

Bio

Articles & Publications

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