Shell Oil Company v. United States ( 2015 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
Consl. Ct. No. 06-141 C
Filed: October 30, 2015
**************************************** 28 U.S.C. § 1491(b)(1)
* (Tucker Act jurisdiction over claims
* against the United States for breach of
* contract);
* 28 U.S.C. § 2501
SHELL OIL COMPANY, ATLANTIC * (Tucker Act statute of limitations);
RICHFIELD COMPANY, TEXACO INC., and * 28 U.S.C. § 2508
UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, * (Jurisdiction over set off, counterclaims,
* claims for damages, or demand against
Plaintiffs, * plaintiff);
* 28 U.S.C. § 2514
v. * (Special Plea In Fraud);
* 41 U.S.C. § 113(a), Contract Settlement Act of
THE UNITED STATES, * 1944, (repealed and replaced by Pub. L.
* 111-350, 124 Stat. 3677 (2011));
Defendant. * 42 U.S. C. § 9601 et seq.,
* (Comprehensive Environmental Response,
* Compensation, and Liability Act);
* Rules of the United States Court of Federal
* Claims (“RCFC”),
**************************************** RCFC 8(c) (Affirmative defenses),
RCFC 15(a)(2) (Amended pleadings).
Michael William Kirk, Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, Washington, D. C., Counsel for Plaintiffs.
Stephen Carl Tosini, United States Department of Justice, Civil Division, Washington, D.C.,
Counsel for the Government.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTIONS
FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR A PROTECTIVE ORDER, THE
GOVERNMENT’S CROSS-MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND
MOTION TO AMEND ANSWER TO ASSERT COUNTERCLAIMS
BRADEN, Judge.
On April 28, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held in this
case that defendant (the “Government”) was liable for breach of a production contract entered into
during World War II and remanded the case for a determination of damages. See Shell Oil Co. v.
United States, 751 F.3d 1282, 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2014). During post-remand discovery allowing the
Government to finalize preparation for a February 2016 evidentiary hearing on damages, a dispute
arose about the discovery of Plaintiffs’ insurance policies and settlements reached in
environmental liability coverage litigation in other judicial forums many years ago.
Before the court resolves the four pending motions concerning this discovery dispute, a
review of this case, initially filed 24 years ago in the United States District Court for the Central
District of California (“California District Court”), is required.
I. RELEVANT FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY.1
A. Relevant Factual Background.
In 1942 and 1943, during World War II, the Government entered into contracts with Shell
Oil Company (“Shell”), Atlantic Richfield Company (“ARCO”), Texaco, Inc. (“Texaco”), and
Union Oil Company of California (“Union Oil”) (collectively, “the Oil Companies”) to produce
high octane aviation gasoline to fuel military aircraft (the “Avgas Contracts”). See Shell IX, 751
F.3d at 1284–85. The production of this type of gasoline, resulted in waste products such as spent
alkylation acid and acid sludge. Id. The Oil Companies disposed of this toxic waste through a
separate arrangement with Mr. Eli McColl, a former Shell engineer, who dumped the waste at a
site in Fullerton, California (known as “the McColl site”). Id.
B. Proceedings Before The United States District Court For The Central
District Of California.
On February 1, 1991, the Government and the State of California brought an action against
the Oil Companies in the California District Court, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a) (“CERCLA”), to recover cleanup
1
Portions of the factual background and procedural history of this case have been discussed
in: United States v. Shell Oil Co., 841 F. Supp. 962, 965–67 (C.D. Cal. 1993) (“Shell I”); United
States v. Shell Oil Co., 13 F. Supp. 2d 1018, 1019–24 (C.D. Cal. 1998) (“Shell II”); United States
v. Shell Oil Co., 281 F.3d 812, 815–18 (9th Cir. 2002) (“Shell III”); United States v. Shell Oil Co.,
294 F.3d 1045, 1047–51 (9th Cir. 2002) (“Shell IV”); Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 93 Fed. Cl.
439, 441–43 (2010) (“Shell V”); Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 93 Fed. Cl. 153, 154–56 (2010)
(“Shell VI”); Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 672 F.3d 1283, 1284–88 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (“Shell VII”);
Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 108 Fed. Cl. 422, 424–29 (2013) (“Shell VIII”); and Shell Oil. Co.
v. United States, 751 F.3d 1282, 1284–90 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (“Shell IX”). The relevant facts and
procedural history discussed herein also were derived from: the parties’ November 20, 2012 Joint
Appendix (“JA 1–818”); an Appendix to the Oil Companies’ April 10, 2015 Motion (“Pls. Exs.
A–G”); and an Appendix to the Government’s May 15, 2015 Response And Cross-Motion (“Gov’t
Exs. 1–73”).
2
costs at the McColl site. See Shell I, 841 F. Supp. at 975. In that case, the Oil Companies filed
counterclaims against the Government, including a claim for breach of contract. Id. at 974–75.
On September 28, 1993, the California District Court determined that the Oil Companies
were liable under CERCLA as “arrangers,” under 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)(3). Id. at 968–70 (holding
“any person [as liable] who [by contract, agreement, or otherwise] arranged for disposal or
treatment . . . of hazardous substances owned or possessed by such person, by any other party or
entity, at any facility or incineration vessel owned or operated by another party or entity and
containing such hazardous substances” (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 9607)) (emphasis added). The
California District Court then bifurcated a determination of the costs of recovery and ruling on the
Oil Companies’ counterclaims. Id. at 975–76.
On December 12, 1994, the California District Court entered a Partial Consent Decree as
to the recovery amount due. JA 345–77. The Oil Companies agreed to pay $13,248,000 to the
United States Environmental Protection Agency and $4,752,000 to the California Department of
Toxic Substances Control for “past response costs.” The parties acknowledged that “the amounts
paid under this Decree are less than [the Government’s] current claim.” JA 353. The Oil
Companies reserved their rights to appeal any final judgment and independently pursue
counterclaims. JA 360 (“[A]ll actions and orders of the Court are appealable as would otherwise
be provided by law[.]”); see also JA 361 (“Settling Defendants reserve their rights to pursue the
claims set forth in their current counterclaims[.]”).
On August 11, 1998, the California District Court issued a Final Opinion regarding cost
recovery. See Shell II, 13 F. Supp. 2d at 1019–30. The Government did not contest that it was
liable for 100% of the benzol waste, i.e., roughly 5.5% of the total waste at the McColl site. Id. at
1023. As to non-benzol waste, it was determined that both spent alkylation acid and acid sludge
were “attributable to the avgas program.” Id. at 1024. The parties stipulated that 100% of the
spent alkylation acid at the McColl site, or 12% of the total waste, was “attributable to the avgas
program.” Id. at 1024–25. Because 100% of the non-benzol waste was “attributable to the avgas
program” and the California District Court found that “[th]e Government should bear 100 percent
responsibility for waste attributable to the avgas program,” the Government was found to be liable
for 100% of the non-benzol waste. Id. at 1024–27.
3
The following Table shows the final determination of the California District Court as to
the apportionment of liability for all wastes at the McColl site:
% of waste % of waste
% of total waste at attributable to attributable to Oil
Type of waste McColl site Government Companies
Benzol waste 5.5 100 0
Acid sludge 5.5 100 0
Non-benzol waste 94.5 100 0
Spent alkylation acid 12 100 0
Acid sludge from
treatment of avgas 82.5 100 0
products
Acid sludge from
treatment of non- 0 0 0
avgas products
See Shell II, 13 F. Supp. 2d at 1024–30.
On October 12, 1999, the California District Court entered a Final Judgment that ordered
the Government to pay the Oil Companies $64,219,514.46, pending appeal. See Final J. Order
App. at 1–2, United States v. Shell Oil Co., No. 91-0589 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 12, 1999); see also JA
610–11 (same).
C. Proceedings Before The United States Court Of Appeals For The Ninth
Circuit.
On February 11, 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overruled
the California District Court’s determination that the Government was an “arranger.” See Shell
III, 281 F.3d at 815 (“We reverse the holding of the district court that the [Government] is liable
for the ‘non-benzol’ waste cleanup costs as an ‘arranger’ under § 9607(a)(3). Because the
[Government] is not liable as an ‘arranger,’ the question of allocation of liability between the
[Government] and the Oil Companies under § 9613(f)(1) is moot.”).
On March 28, 2002, both the Oil Companies and the Government filed petitions for
rehearing. See Shell IV, 294 F.3d at 1048–49. On June 28, 2002, the United States Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied both parties’ petitions and withdrew the February 11, 2002
Opinion:
4
We reverse the holding of the district court that the [Government] is liable for the
non-benzol waste cleanup costs as an arranger under § 9607(a)(3). Because the
[the Government] is not liable as an arranger, the question of allocation of liability
for the non-benzol waste between the [Government] and the Oil Companies under
§ 9613(f)(1) is moot. . . . We affirm the holding of the district court that 100% of
the cleanup costs for the benzol waste should be allocated to the [Government].
Id. at 1048–49.2
D. Remand Proceedings In The United States District Court For The Central
District Of California.
In August 2003, the Government and the Oil Companies stipulated that:
[T]he Oil Companies are legally responsible under CERCLA for 93.75% of the
response costs incurred by the [Government] and the State in relation to the McColl
site. With respect to the costs previously resolved pursuant to the 1994 Consent
Decree, the [Government] is responsible under CERCLA for reimbursing the Oil
Companies for the [Government’s] 6.25% share of the costs paid by the Oil
Companies to the State pursuant to the 1994 Consent Decree.
***
The remaining claims in this case consist of (1) the [Government’s] claim under
CERCLA for environmental response costs incurred generally between July 1,
1990 and June 30, 2012, plus related prejudgment interest, in an amount that the
[Government] alleges totals approximately $43 million and (2) the State’s claim
under CERCLA for environmental response costs incurred generally between
October 1990 and . . . June 30, 2013, plus related prejudgment interest, in an
amount that the State alleges totals approximately $5.7 to $6 million. As noted
above, the State has settled with the [Government] for 6.25 percent of the State’s
claim for costs incurred between October 1990 through June 2011.
Joint Status Report at 4–5, 7–8, United States v. Shell Oil Co., No. 91-0589 (C.D. Cal. Dec.
6, 2013).
On July 16, 2004, the Government filed a Motion To Dismiss the Oil Companies’ breach
of contract counterclaims for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. See Gov’t Mot. Dismiss, United
States v. Shell Oil Co., No. 91-0589 (C.D. Cal. July 16, 2004). On December 14, 2004, the
California District Court granted the Government’s July 16, 2004 Motion. See Min. Order, United
States v. Shell Oil Co., No. 91-0589 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 14, 2004); see also Shell IX, 751 F.3d at 1289
(discussing the transfer of the Oil Companies’ breach of contract counterclaim from the California
District Court to the United States Court of Federal Claims).
2
On January 13, 2003, the United States Supreme Court denied the Oil Companies’ joint
petition for a writ of certiorari. See Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 537 U.S. 1147 (2003).
5
E. Initial Proceedings Before The United States Court Of Federal Claims, Case
No. 05-704.
On June 30, 2005, the California District Court transferred the Oil Companies’ breach of
contract counterclaims to the United States Court of Federal Claims. See Transfer Order, Shell Oil
Co. v. United States, No. 05-704 (Fed. Cl. June 30, 2005). On July 28, 2005, the Oil Companies
filed an Amended Complaint. But, on September 22, 2005, the Oil Companies voluntarily
dismissed the July 28, 2005 Amended Complaint. See Notice, Shell Oil Co. v. United States, No.
05-704 (Fed. Cl. Sept. 22, 2005).
F. Proceedings Before The General Services Administration.
On November 23, 2005, the Oil Companies filed a claim with the General Services
Administration (“GSA”), seeking $66,283,698.40 in response costs under Section 113(a) of the
Contract Settlement Act of 1944. JA 554–59. On February 15, 2006, the GSA informed the Oil
Companies that, “there was no basis for recovery,” because the “[w]ar contracts that were not
terminated in the manner prescribed by the [Contract Settlement] Act [of 1944] are not eligible for
compensation or consideration under the [Contract Settlement] Act [of 1944].” JA 560. The GSA
also stated that it “neither receives nor currently has any authorized appropriations or other funds
available for the purpose of liquidating or otherwise paying for any alleged liability[.]” JA 560.
G. Additional Proceedings In The United States Court Of Federal Claims, Case
No. 06-141.
On February 24, 2006, the Oil Companies filed a Complaint (“Compl.”) in the United
States Court of Federal Claims: Count I alleged that the Government’s “refusal to pay and/or
reimburse the Oil Companies . . . under the Avgas Contracts materially breaches those contracts”;
Count II alleged that the Government’s “refusal to pay and/or reimburse the Oil
Companies . . . constitutes a failure to pay ‘fair compensation’ in violation of the Contract
Settlement Act of 1944, 41 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.” Compl. ¶¶ 27, 29. This case was assigned to
Senior Judge Loren A. Smith.
On April 17, 2006, the Government filed a Motion To Dismiss. On June 30, 2006, the Oil
Companies filed a Cross-Motion For Partial Summary Judgment As To Liability. On February 8,
2008, the United States Court of Federal Claims issued an Opinion, denying the Government’s
April 17, 2006 Motion To Dismiss, but granting the Oil Companies’ June 30, 2006 Cross-Motion
For Partial Summary Judgment. See Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 80 Fed. Cl. 411, 414–20 (2008)
(determining that the Government was required to reimburse the Oil Companies for cleanup costs,
because such expenses were “charges” under the “Taxes Clause” of the Avgas Contracts and the
Anti-Deficiency Act, Pub. L. No. 59-28, 34 Stat. 27, 49 (1906) was not applicable to those
contracts).
On February 25, 2008, the Government filed an Answer to the February 24, 2006
Complaint. No discovery stay was entered during any subsequent proceedings before Senior Judge
Smith. Nevertheless, the Government elected not to conduct any discovery.
6
On June 20, 2008, the Oil Companies filed a Motion For Summary Judgment as to
damages. Following briefing by the parties, on March 31, 2009, the United States Court of Federal
Claims issued an Opinion determining that the California District Court’s August 11, 1998
Opinion collaterally estopped the Government from claiming less than full liability for cleanup
costs associated with non-benzol waste at the McColl site and awarded the Oil Companies all
claimed costs, plus statutory interest. See Shell Oil Co. v. United States, 86 Fed. Cl. 470, 475
(2009) (“The Ninth Circuit upheld the findings made by the California district court . . . that ‘100
percent of the non-benzol waste . . . at the McColl Site is attributable to the avgas program,’ and
that finding was necessary to the Ninth Circuit’s judgment. Accordingly, the United States is
precluded from challenging that finding in this case as [it is] binding on the Government as a matter
of issue preclusion or collateral estoppel.”) (citation omitted). Id. at 475.
On November 16, 2009, however, Senior Judge Smith held a status conference to inform
the Oil Companies that he recently learned his spouse owned 97.59 shares of stock in Texaco’s
parent company.
On December 28, 2009, the Government filed a Notice Of Appeal.
On May 27, 2010, Senior Judge Smith vacated the February 8, 2008 and March 31, 2009
Opinions that granted summary judgment on liability and damages in favor of the Oil Companies.
No. 06-141, ECF No. 74. In addition, he severed the Texaco and Union Oil claims, but reinstated
summary judgment in favor of Shell and ARCO, and entered final judgment against the
Government in the amount of $68,849,505.88. No. 06-141 ECF, No. 79.
On September 17, 2010, the Government filed a second Notice Of Appeal. On March 7,
2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held: “Because we find that the
presiding judge was required to recuse himself under 28 U.S.C. § 455(b),3 and that vacatur is
appropriate in the circumstances of this case, we vacate the final judgment and the summary
judgment orders on which it was premised, and remand with instructions that this case be
reassigned to a different judge.” See Shell VII, 672 F.3d at 1285.
On remand, this case was transferred to Judge Thomas Wheeler on May 14, 2012.
On June 29, 2012, the Oil Companies jointly filed a Motion For Summary Judgment. On
September 7, 2012, the Government filed a Cross-Motion For Summary Judgment. No discovery
stay was entered at any time during the proceeding before Judge Wheeler and the Government
3
Section 455(b), in relevant part, provides:
[A judge] shall also disqualify himself in the following circumstances: . . . (4) He
knows that he, individually or as a fiduciary, or his spouse or minor child residing
in his household, has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a
party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be substantially affected by
the outcome of the proceeding[.]
28 U.S.C. § 455(b).
7
again elected not to conduct any discovery. On November 20, 2012, the Oil Companies filed a
Joint Appendix (“JA 1–818”).
On January 14, 2013, the United States Court of Federal Claims issued an Opinion that
granted summary judgment on liability in favor of the Government. See Shell VIII, 108 Fed. Cl.
at 425–26 (“The ‘Taxes’ clause in [the Oil Companies’] contracts does not trump the California
courts’ CERCLA result. Accordingly, the Court finds for the Government.”). Because the
Government was not liable, the court was not required to reach the issue of damages, but “in the
interests of completeness the Court . . . address[ed] this subject,” observing that, even if the
Government was liable, “the issue of what portion of the non-benzol waste was created ‘by reason
of’ the avgas program raise[d] factual questions that [were] simply not adequately answered by
the evidence or stipulations currently before the Court.” Id. at 446, 448.
On January 30, 2013, the Oil Companies filed a Notice Of Appeal. On April 28, 2014, the
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that, “[b]ecause the [A]vgas [C]ontracts
require the Government to reimburse the Oil Companies for their CERCLA ‘charges,’ this court
reverses with respect to breach of contract liability. The [United States] Court of Federal Claims
correctly determined, however, that material factual disputes preclude granting summary judgment
on damages, and that issue is accordingly remanded for trial.” Shell IX, 751 F.3d at 1285.
After the second remand, this case was transferred to the undersigned judge on September
11, 2014. On November 12, 2014, the court entered a Scheduling Order. Two months later on
January 12, 2015, the Government served the Oil Companies with a First Set Of Requests For
Production Of Documents. Pls. Ex. A.
On March 12, 2015, the court convened a telephone status conference to discuss a dispute
arising from the Government’s January 12, 2015 discovery request and other scheduling issues.
On March 19, 2015, the parties filed a Joint Motion To Amend Schedule that the court granted on
March 23, 2015. On March 24, 2015, the parties filed a Joint Motion For Protective Order
Regarding Confidentiality that the court entered on March 25, 2015.
On April 10, 2015, the Oil Companies filed a Motion For A Protective Order And Motion
For Partial Summary Judgment And A Memorandum In Support (“Pls. S. J. Mem.”), seeking to
prevent discovery of the Oil Companies’ insurance policies and any insurance coverage
settlements. The Oil Companies also filed an Appendix with seven exhibits (“Pls. Exs. A–G”).
On May 6, 2015, the parties filed a Joint Motion To Amend Discovery Schedule. On May
7, 2015, the Government also filed a Notice of Seven Applications For Access To Protected
Materials, including that of Mr. Matthew Low, an arbitration and mediation consultant. On May
12, 2015, the Oil Companies filed a Response, objecting to Mr. Low’s Application.
On May 15, 2015, the Government filed an Opposition And Cross-Motion To The Oil
Companies’ April 10, 2015 Motion For Protective Order And Partial Summary Judgment (“Gov’t
Opp.”). On May 18, 2015, the Government filed an Appendix with 73 exhibits (“Gov’t Exs. 1–
73”). On May 19, 2015, the parties filed a Joint Motion To Amend [The] Schedule.
8
On May 21, 2015, the court entered Orders that granted the parties’ May 6, 2015 and May
19, 2015 Motions. On that same day, the court also entered an Order that granted six of the
Government’s May 7, 2015 Applications For Access To Protected Materials, but denied Mr. Low’s
Application. On May 26, 2015, the Government filed a Notice of an Application For Access To
Protected Materials.
On June 15, 2015, the Oil Companies filed a Reply To The Government’s May 15, 2015
Response And Cross-Motion (“Pls. Reply”). The Oil Companies filed a second Appendix with
two exhibits (“Pls. Reply App. Exs. A–B”).
On June 17, 2015, the Government filed a Notice, objecting to the Oil Companies’
proposed redactions to the Government’s May 15, 2015 Response And Cross-Motion. On June
29, 2015, the Oil Companies filed a Response to the Government’s June 17, 2015 Notice. On June
30, 2015, the court convened a telephone status conference.
On July 8, 2015, the Government filed a Reply In Support Of its May 15, 2015 Cross-
Motion (“Gov’t Reply”).
On August 27, 2015, the court entered an Order setting a hearing on the pending motions
for October 20, 2015. The Order also scheduled an evidentiary hearing on damages for the week
of February 17, 2016 at the United States Court of Federal Claims.
On September 3, 2015, the Government filed a Motion For Leave To Amend Its Answer
To Assert Counterclaims (“Gov’t Mot. To Am.”). Specifically, the Government requested leave
to assert affirmative defenses and counterclaims, based upon the Special Plea in Fraud, 28 U.S.C.
§ 25144 and the antifraud provision of the Contract Settlement Act of 1944 (“CSA”), 41 U.S.C. §
119 (2005) (repealed 2011).5 Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 1.
4
Section 2514 of the Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act provides:
A claim against the United States shall be forfeited to the United States by any
person who corruptly practices or attempts to practice any fraud against the United
States in the proof, statement, establishment, or allowance thereof.
In such cases the United States Court of Federal Claims shall specifically find such
fraud or attempt and render judgment of forfeiture.
28 U.S.C. § 2514 (2012).
5
Section 119 of the CSA provided:
Every person who makes or causes to be made, or presents or causes to be presented
to any officer, agent, or employee of any Government agency any claim, bill,
receipt, voucher, statement, account, certificate, affidavit, or deposition, knowing
the same to be false, fraudulent, or fictitious or knowing the same to contain or to
be based on any false, fraudulent, or fictitious statement or entry, or who shall cover
9
On September 14, 2015, the Oil Companies filed a Response To The Government’s Motion
To Amend Pleadings (“Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am.”), together with a third Appendix
including seven additional exhibits (“Pls. Resp. App. Exs. A–G”).
On September 25, 2015, the Government filed a Reply In Support Of Its Motion For Leave
To Amend Its Answer (“Gov’t Reply In Supp.”).
On October 20, 2015, the court held an oral argument on the pending motions (“10/20/15
TR 1–54”).
II. DISCUSSION.
A. Jurisdiction.
The United States Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction under the Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C.
§ 1491, “to render judgment upon any claim against the United States founded either upon the
Constitution, or any Act of Congress or any regulation of an executive department, or upon any
express or implied contract with the United States, or for liquidated or unliquidated damages in
cases not sounding in tort.” 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1). The Tucker Act, however, is “a jurisdictional
statute; it does not create any substantive right enforceable against the United States for money
up or conceal any material fact, or who shall use or engage in any other fraudulent
trick, scheme, or device, for the purpose of securing or obtaining, or aiding to secure
or obtain, for any person any benefit, payment, compensation, allowance, loan,
advance, or emolument from the United States or any Government agency in
connection with the termination, cancelation, settlement, payment, negotiation,
renegotiation, performance, procurement, or award of a contract with the United
States or with any other person, and every person who enters into an agreement,
combination, or conspiracy so to do, (1) shall pay to the United States an amount
equal to 25 per centum of any amount thereby sought to be wrongfully secured or
obtained but not actually received, and (2) shall forfeit and refund any such benefit,
payment, compensation, allowance, loan, advance, and emolument received as a
result thereof and (3) shall in addition pay to the United States the sum of $2,000
for each such act, and double the amount of any damage which the United States
may have sustained by reason thereof, together with the costs of suit.
41 U.S.C. § 119 (repealed 2011).
In 2011, the CSA was repealed and replaced by An Act To Enact Certain Laws Relating
To Public Contracts, Pub. L. 111-350, 124 Stat. 3677. The 2011 Act contained a savings clause
providing that, “the laws . . . are repealed except for rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before the date of this Act.” Pub. L. No. 111-350,
§ 7(b), 124 Stat. 3677, 3855 (2011) (emphasis added).
10
damages. . . . [T]he Act merely confers jurisdiction upon [the United States Court of Federal
Claims] whenever the substantive right exists.” United States v. Testan, 424 U.S. 392, 398 (1976).
To pursue a substantive right under the Tucker Act, a plaintiff must identify and plead an
independent contractual relationship, constitutional provision, federal statute, and/or executive
agency regulation that provides a substantive right to money damages. See Todd v. United States,
386 F.3d 1091, 1094 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (“[J]urisdiction under the Tucker Act requires the litigant to
identify a substantive right for money damages against the United States separate from the Tucker
Act[.]”); see also Fisher v. United States, 402 F.3d 1167, 1172 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) (“The
Tucker Act . . . does not create a substantive cause of action; . . . a plaintiff must identify a separate
source of substantive law that creates the right to money damages. . . . [T]hat source must be
‘money-mandating.’”) (citations omitted). Specifically, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the
source of substantive law upon which he relies “can fairly be interpreted as mandating
compensation by the Federal Government.” United States v. Mitchell, 463 U.S. 206, 216 (1983)
(quoting Testan, 424 U.S. at 400). And, the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing jurisdiction
by a preponderance of the evidence. See Reynolds v. Army & Air Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d 746,
748 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (“[O]nce the [trial] court’s subject matter jurisdiction [is] put in question . . .
[the plaintiff] bears the burden of establishing subject matter jurisdiction by a preponderance of
the evidence.”).
In this case, the February 24, 2006 Complaint alleges that the Oil Companies entered into
Avgas Contracts that were breached by the Government. Compl. ¶¶ 27, 29. As such, the court
has jurisdiction to adjudicate the Oil Companies’ claims.
B. Standing.
The United States Supreme Court has held that “the question of standing is whether the
litigant is entitled to have the court decide the merits of the dispute or of particular issues.”
Warth v. Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 498 (1975). Standing must be determined “as of the
commencement of suit.” Rothe Dev. Corp. v. Dep’t of Def., 413 F.3d 1327, 1334 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
(quoting Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 570 n.5 (1992)). The party invoking federal
jurisdiction bears the burden of establishing standing. Id. at 560–61. Specifically, “a plaintiff
must show [that] it has suffered an ‘injury in fact’ that is . . . concrete and particularized
and . . . actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical; . . . the injury is fairly traceable to the
challenged action of the defendant; and . . . it is likely, as opposed to merely speculative, that the
injury will be redressed by a favorable decision.” Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Envtl.
Serv., Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 180–81 (2000).
In this case, the February 24, 2006 Complaint alleges that the Oil Companies suffered an
“injury in fact” that is “concrete,” “particularized,” and “fairly traceable” to the Government’s
actions. Compl. ¶¶ 27, 29. And, any injury sustained by the Oil Companies can be redressed by
a monetary award. For these reasons, the court has determined that the Oil Companies have
standing to seek adjudication of the claims alleged in the February 24, 2006 Complaint.
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C. The Oil Companies’ April 10, 2015 Motion For A Protective Order And
Motion For Partial Summary Judgment And The Government’s May 15, 2015
Response And Cross-Motion For Partial Summary Judgment.
The Oil Companies’ April 10, 2015 Memorandum In Support Of The Motion For Partial
Summary Judgment argues that the Government should not be allowed to engage in discovery
about the Oil Companies’ insurance policies at this late date for three reasons: (1) the Government
has waived any insurance offset defense; (2) the Government’s insurance offset defense exceeds
the scope of the mandate in Shell IX, 751 F.3d at 1282; and (3) the Government’s offset defense is
barred by the collateral source rule or ancillary remote transaction rule. Pls. S. J. Mem. at 2–3, 27.
1. Whether The Government’s Offset Defense Has Been Waived.
a. The Oil Companies’ Argument.
The Oil Companies argue any insurance offset is an affirmative defense6 that the
Government waived by failing to raise it more than seven years after the February 25, 2008 Answer
was filed. Pls. S. J. Mem. at 9–16; Pls. Reply at 3–9.
The Government has been aware that the Oil Companies were involved in litigation with
their insurance carriers about environmental coverage since at least June 1992. Pls. Ex. F (the
Government’s 6/19/1992 Memorandum of Points and Authorities submitted to the California
District Court stating “that [the Oil Companies] initiated [a] lawsuit in 1983 for the purpose of
establishing coverage under its policies of insurance in the event it was liable for contamination at
the McColl site”). Although the Government did not have knowledge of the actual terms of those
settlements, “in 2008, it would have been reasonably apparent to anyone with knowledge . . . [of
the Oil Companies’ insurance coverage litigation] that the Oil Companies might have recovered
proceeds on their insurance claims.” Pls. Reply at 8. As such, “[t]here is no justification for the
Government’s decision to raise this defense now.” Pls. S. J. Mem. at 13.
Allowing the Government to assert an insurance offset defense at this late date would
prejudice the Oil Companies. Pls. S. J. Mem. at 11–13 (citing Henricks v. Pickaway Corr. Inst.,
782 F.3d 744, 751 (6th Cir. 2015) (“When the defendant is unable to offer any reasonable
explanation for its tardiness in presenting a defense, finding waiver is not an abuse of discretion.”);
Venters v. City of Delphi, 123 F.3d 956, 967–68 (7th Cir. 1997) (“Once the availability of an
affirmative defense is reasonably apparent, the defendant must alert the parties and the court to his
intent to pursue that defense. A defendant should not be permitted to ‘lie behind a log’ and ambush
a plaintiff with an unexpected defense.”) (citation omitted).
Moreover, “many of the employees with knowledge of the insurance coverage cases no
longer work at the Oil Companies” and “[d]etermining how much, if any, of the environmental
liability insurance proceeds the Oil Companies received are attributable to the CERCLA claims at
6
The terms “offset” and “set off” are used interchangeably. See Citizens Bank v. Strumpf,
516 U.S. 16, 18 (1995) (stating that a “setoff” is “also called ‘offset’”). Herein, the court has used
the term “offset” or “insurance offset.”
12
issue in this case could be extremely difficult[,] because the Oil Companies’ omnibus insurance
recoveries resolved countless actual and threatened claims.” Pls. S. J. Mem. at 14. In addition,
the court would be forced “to wade into this morass of decades-old settlements and litigation” that
would “implicate numerous subsidiary questions,” and significant additional litigation expense.
Pls. S. J. Mem. at 15–16; see also Pls. Reply at 6–7.
b. The Government’s Response.
In short, the Government responds that the Oil Companies’ arguments are “unpersuasive,
because (1) as an element of damages, no affirmative defense is required to address . . . the [O]il
[C]ompanies[’] duplicative recovery of the same ‘charges’; and (2) [the Government] did not
discover the settlements that the [O]il [C]ompanies had withheld until this year [, i.e., 2015].”
Gov’t Opp. at 23.
First, there is no precedent holding that “recovery of ‘charges’” must be raised in an
answer. Gov’t Opp. at 23. Moreover, “the distinction that rendered collateral payments subject to
[the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure] FRCP 8(c)7. . . is absent here.” Gov’t Opp. at 24 (discussing
Hassan v. U. S. Postal Service, 842 F.2d 260, 263 (11th Cir. 1968) where that appellate court held
that “[e]vidence about the collateral source payments is distinct from evidence about the accident
and evidence about the physical and emotional damage borne by [the plaintiff]”)). For this reason,
the Hassan court held that, “even though the Government[’s] . . . requested offset involved an
affirmative defense, the trial court had correctly allowed evidence on collateral source payments.”
Gov’t Opp. at 24 (citing Hassan, 842 F.2d at 263 (holding that there was no error “[w]hen a
plaintiff has notice that an affirmative defense will be raised at trial, [because] the defendant’s
failure to comply with Rule 8(c) does not cause the plaintiff any prejudice”) (emphasis omitted).
In this case, the Government first “obtained ‘concrete and positive evidence’ before . . . initiat[ing]
discovery into matters relevant [to] insurance recovery.” Gov’t Opp. at 25 (quoting Am. Airlines
Inc. v. United States, 551 F.3d 1294, 1306 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (citation omitted)).
Second, the court should reject the Oil Companies’ waiver argument, because during the
litigation in the California District Court, the Government asked the Oil Companies to identify any
insurance litigation and settlements in April 30, 1997 interrogatories. Gov’t Opp. at 26; see also
Gov’t Ex. 1 (the Government’s April 30, 1997 interrogatories). But, the Oil Companies “withheld
information regarding their secret insurance settlements” and “now seek to benefit from the fact
that the [Government] did not first learn about the insurance settlements—and of [the Oil
Companies’] attempt to obtain a double-recovery . . . —until very recently[.]” Gov’t Opp. at 26–
27. 8 Although the Government was aware of the fact that the Oil Companies were involved in
7
Rule 8(c) of FRCP and Rule 8(c) of the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims
(“RCFC”) are identical, except FRCP lists one additional affirmative defense—“injury by fellow
servant”—that is not relevant here. Compare FRCP 8(c), with RCFC 8(c).
8
The Oil Companies respond that “they were under no obligation to answer the
Government’s interrogatory, because discovery [in the California District Court] had closed.” Pls.
Reply at 8 (citing Pls. Reply App. Ex. B, at A10 (6/16/97 Joint Status Report) (“It is the Oil
Companies’ position that the discovery cutoff occurred on August 31, 1994. The [Government]
13
ongoing insurance coverage litigation since 1992, the Government did not know that those cases
had settled for hundreds of millions of dollars, which was not revealed until January 2015. Gov’t
Opp. at 27–29 (citing Gov’t App. Exs. 4–7 (2012 to 2015 press releases regarding the Oil
Companies’ settlement agreements)). Therefore, the Government’s delay in raising an offset
defense is justified, particularly since “the ‘prejudice’ that the [Oil Companies] really allege is the
loss of double-payments to which they have no right.” Gov’t Opp. at 27.
c. The Court’s Resolution.
RCFC 8(c)(1) states: “[i]n responding to a pleading, a party must affirmatively state any
. . . affirmative defense[.]” RCFC 8(c)(1) (emphasis added).9 An affirmative defense, however,
“once forfeited, is ‘exclu[ded] from the case.’” Wood v. Milyard, 132 S. Ct. 1826, 1832 (2012)
(quoting 5 CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT & ARTHUR R. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
§ 1278 at 644–45 (3d ed. 2004) (“WRIGHT & MILLER”)); see also Pei-Herng Hor v. Ching-Wu
Chu, 699 F.3d 1331, 1337–38 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (“[T]he failure to plead [an affirmative defense]
can result in waiver[.]”); Am. Airlines Inc. v. United States, 75 Fed. Cl. 237, 241 (2006) (“The
Government . . . did not plead set off as an affirmative defense. . . . Therefore, to the extent the
Government is now seeking discovery to establish a counterclaim or set off, that time has passed.”)
(citation omitted), aff’d, 551 F.3d 1294, 1307 (Fed. Cir. 2008). More importantly, the
Government’s obligation to plead any affirmative defense “is not limited to complete defenses,”
but also extends to “matters that tend to mitigate damages.” See 5 WRIGHT & MILLER § 1273.
It is true that, “[f]ailure to raise an affirmative defense, by responsive pleading does not
always result in waiver. The purpose of [RCFC 8(c)] is to give the opposing party notice of the
affirmative defense and a chance to respond.” See Ultra-Precision Mfg., Ltd. v. Ford Motor Co.,
411 F.3d 1369, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Smith v. Sushka, 117 F.3d 965, 969 (6th Cir. 1997)).
For example, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, has determined “[w]hen
a plaintiff ha[d] notice that an affirmative defense will be raised at trial, the defendant’s failure to
comply with Rule 8(c) does not cause the plaintiff any prejudice.” Hassan, 842 F.2d at 263. In
that case, where an offset defense was raised during depositions and by interrogatory, “it [was]
clear that there was no prejudice to [the plaintiff].” Id. The determinative factor is whether there
is “unfair surprise or prejudice.” Entergy Nuclear Fitzpatrick, LLC v. United States, 93 Fed. Cl.
739, 746 (2010) (“[T]his court has been hesitant to allow affirmative defenses to proceed once
cannot unilaterally reopen discovery.”)). Moreover, the Government’s 1997 interrogatory “proves
that the Government fully understood that the Oil Companies might have received . . . related
insurance proceeds, and thus, . . . the potential availability of the [offset] defense was reasonably
apparent to the Government.” Pls. Reply at 9 (emphasis added) (citing Pls. Reply App. Ex. B, at
A10).
9
RCFC 8(c)(1) provides the following non-exhaustive list of affirmative defenses: accord
and satisfaction; arbitration and award; assumption of risk; contributory negligence; duress;
estoppel; failure of consideration; fraud; illegality; laches; license; payment; release; res judicata;
statute of frauds; statute of limitations; and waiver. See RCFC 8(c)(1) (emphasis added).
14
significant activity, such as a trial or discovery, has concluded because the plaintiffs would be
unfairly prejudiced.”), aff’d, 711 F.3d 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
In this case, the Avgas Contracts date back to the 1940s, the California District Court
CERCLA litigation began in 1991, the United States Court of Federal Claims litigation was
initiated in 2006, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reached a liability
determination on April 28, 2014. See Shell IX, 751 F.3d at 1285–90 (reviewing the case’s factual
background and procedural history). Although the Government contends that it only learned of
the Oil Companies’ insurance coverage settlements sometime between 2012 and 2015, the record
reflects that the Government was aware of the fact of the existence of the Oil Companies’
insurance policies and coverage litigation as early as 1992 and certainly by 1997. Compare Pls.
Ex. F (the Government’s 6/19/92 Memorandum of Points and Authorities submitted to the
California District Court), and Pls. Reply Ex. B (6/16/97 Joint Status Report), and 10/20/15 TR 4,
6, with Gov’t App. Exs. 4–7 (2012 to 2015 press releases regarding the Oil Companies’ settlement
agreements).
At this juncture, the Oil Companies will be substantially prejudiced by having to engage in
a whole new area of discovery more than twenty years after the CERCLA litigation began and
nearly ten years after the breach of contract counterclaim was transferred to the United States Court
of Federal Claims. See Tenneco Resins, Inc. v. Reeves Bros., 752 F.2d 630, 634 (Fed. Cir. 1985)
(“[T]wo factors—delay and prejudice—reinforce each other: [T]he risk of substantial prejudice
increases with the passage of time.”).
For these reasons, the court has determined that the Government’s insurance offset is an
affirmative defense that could and should have been asserted no later than February 25, 2008 when
it filed its Answer. As such, the Government has waived this defense.
2. Whether Consideration Of The Government’s Offset Defense Exceeds
The Scope Of The United States Court Of Appeals For The Federal
Circuit’s Mandate.
In the court’s judgment, the Government’s failure to comply with RCFC 8(c) is dispositive
of the Oil Companies’ Motion For Summary Judgment. Nevertheless the court briefly will address
the Oil Companies’ alternative argument that allowing the Government to assert a new offset
defense exceeds the mandate of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The Government asserts that, although its insurance offset defense was not raised before
the California District Court, nor in prior proceedings before the United States Court of Federal
Claims or the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, nevertheless the court is not
barred by the mandate rule from considering this defense. Gov’t Opp. at 30 (“[I]f an ‘issue was
not briefed or argued [such that a] panel therefore express[ed] no view on [a] question’ then the
mandate rule does not bar the trial court from addressing a new issue on remand.”) (quoting Exxon
Chem. Patents, Inc. v. Lubrizol Corp., 137 F.3d 1475, 1478 (Fed. Cir. 1998). Therefore, the court
may consider this issue during the “new trial” for damages, particularly because the United States
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed with the United States Court of Federal Claims’
observation that damages in this case is a “blank slate.” Gov’t Opp. at 30 (quoting Shell VIII, 108
Fed. Cl. at 447–48).
15
It is well established that a remand order should be construed narrowly. See In re Sanford
Fork & Tool Co., 160 U.S. 247, 255 (1895) (holding that a trial court may not “vary,” “give any
other or further relief,” or “intermeddle with” the appellate court’s mandate)); see also United
States v. Campbell, 168 F.3d 263, 265 (6th Cir. 1999) (distinguishing limited remands from general
remands and holding that the former “explicitly outline[s] the issues to be addressed by the district
court”); see also 18B WRIGHT & MILLER § 4478.3 (2d ed. 2002) (“A specific mandate direction
binds the lower court[.]”).
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s mandate rule does not favor
introducing a new affirmative defense on remand. See Yankee Atomic Elec. Co. v. United States,
679 F.3d 1354, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (holding that the Government “was barred from asserting
[a] position, because it was not presented at trial” and was not before the trial court on remand);
cf. Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. v. St. Jude Med., Inc., 576 F.3d 1348, 1352–56 (Fed. Cir. 2009)
(holding that the defendant was not permitted on remand to introduce an anticipation defense
challenging a patent’s validity, because, “anticipation was not properly before the district court on
remand”).
Therefore, in considering the scope of a remand, the United States Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit requires “the trial court [to] consider both the letter and the spirit of th[e
appellate] court’s remand order.” Yankee Atomic, 679 F.3d at 1362. “The mandate rule provides
that issues actually decided [on appeal]—those within the scope of the judgment appealed from,
minus those explicitly reversed or remanded by the court—are foreclosed from further
consideration.” Amado v. Microsoft Corp., 517 F.3d 1353, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2008). But, “it may be
appropriate in some circumstances for a court to revisit an issue that would otherwise be deemed
waived and beyond the scope of an appellate mandate. Such circumstances, however, must be
exceptional. Otherwise, the underlying rationales for the doctrines of law of the case and the
mandate rule would be thwarted.” Tronzo v. Biomet, Inc., 236 F.3d 1342, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2001)
(citation omitted).
Our appellate court has stated that the following factors should be considered by a trial
court in determining the scope of a mandate: (1) whether the party introduced a new affirmative
defense as a result of intervening case law or new evidence; (2) whether the party could have
introduced the defense as an alternative theory at an earlier phase of trial; (3) whether manifest
injustice would result from excluding the defense; and (4) whether limiting the mandate to the
precise language of the appellate court’s order would unduly constrain the scope of issues that
could properly be considered. See Yankee Atomic, 679 F.3d at 1360–63.
In this case, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit described the scope
of the remand in three places in the 2014 decision:
 In the introduction, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
stated, “The [United States] Court of Federal Claims correctly
determined . . . that material factual disputes preclude granting summary
judgment on damages, and that issue is accordingly remanded for trial.” Shell
IX, 751 F.3d at 1285 (emphasis added).
16
 In the summary judgment discussion as to damages, the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit stated, “The case is remanded for the [United
States] Court of Federal Claims to determine how much acid waste at the
McColl site was ‘by reason of’ the avgas contracts.” Id. at 1303 (emphasis
added); see also id. at 1302 (“The sole remaining issue is whether the [United
States] Court of Federal Claims correctly determined that genuine disputed
facts prevented granting summary judgment with respect to damages.”)
(emphasis added).
 In the conclusion, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
stated, “For the foregoing reasons, this court reverses the [United States] Court
of Federal Claims’ grant of summary judgment with respect to breach of
contract liability, and remands for a trial on damages.” Id. at 1303 (emphasis
added).
In the court’s view, the second exposition defines the scope of the remand. As to the first
Yankee Atomic factor, in this case there has been no intervening change in case law and the only
“new” evidence is the Government’s proffer of a collection of press releases discussing insurance
coverage settlements reached by the Oil Companies in state court actions. Gov’t Exs. 4–7 (2012
to 2015 press releases). As to the second factor, the Government was aware of the Oil Companies’
insurance coverage litigation in 1992 and could have intervened in those cases to protect its
perceived interest in the monetary proceeds and/or asserted an affirmative defense when this case
was pending in the California District Court. Pls. Ex. F (the Government’s 6/19/1992
Memorandum of Points and Authorities). In addition, the Government elected not to raise this
issue previously in the United States Court of Federal Claims or the United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit so it could be included in the scope of the remand. Certainly, the
Government was not barred from raising its need for insurance coverage litigation settlements
during the most recent appellate proceedings. As to the third issue, i.e., whether excluding the
Government’s offset defense would cause “manifest injustice,” any injustice to the Government
for its failure to undertake any discovery of potential insurance settlements must be balanced
against the imposition of a significant burden on the Oil Companies since such discovery would
expand the scope of the damages inquiry and delay a final damage determination. As to the fourth
factor, limiting the mandate “to determine how much acid waste at the McColl site was ‘by reason
of’ the avgas contracts” would not unduly constrain the scope of the remand, because liability and
the general parameters of damages already have been determined. Shell IX, 751 F.3d at 1303.
For these reasons, the court has determined that the Government’s insurance offset is an
affirmative defense that the Government has knowingly waived and consideration thereof at this
late juncture would exceed the scope of the mandate.10
10
The Government also advanced five additional arguments: (1) the Oil Companies
waived their objections to the Government’s January 12, 2015 First Set Of Discovery Requests;
(2) the Oil Companies failed to identify each request to which they object; (3) communications
with insurers are relevant; (4) the requests are not unduly burdensome; and (5) the Oil Companies
17
D. The Government’s September 3, 2015 Motion For Leave To Amend Its
Answer.
1. The Government’s Argument.
In the alternative, the Government argues that the court should grant the September 3, 2015
Motion For Leave To Amend Its February 25, 2008 Answer to assert affirmative defenses and
counterclaims, based upon the Special Plea in Fraud, 28 U.S.C. § 2514, and the antifraud provision
of the Contract Settlement Act of 1944, 41 U.S.C. § 119. Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 1. As an initial
matter, the Government contends that leave to amend should be given, as there has been no “undue
delay,” because the Government only first learned of the Oil Companies’ insurance coverage
settlement agreements in January 2015, just two months into the damages discovery in this phase
of the case. Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 7.
The Government adds that it does not have a “bad faith or dilatory motive” in requesting
leave to amend the February 25, 2008 Answer, because as soon as the Government learned of the
insurance coverage settlements, discovery commenced in this case. Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 7. In
addition, the Oil Companies’ refusal to comply with the Government’s January 12, 2015 subpoena
required the Government to develop “outside sources to confirm . . . suspicions that Shell’s and
ARCO’s claim to the contracting officer sought payment for costs that those companies knew that
they did not, in fact, incur.” Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 7.
And, allowing the Government leave to amend its Answer would not result in an undue
burden on or prejudice the Oil Companies. “Our counterclaim is merely one additional claim
alleging that plaintiffs wrongly sought double-payment from Federal and state entities of amounts
that they had already recovered from their insurers.” Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 8. Nor is amendment
futile, because “the insurance settlement documents demonstrate that Shell and ARCO did . . . seek
a payment from the taxpayers for ‘charges’ that they did not incur.” Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 8. This
conduct “is analogous to double-billing the Government” and “seeking such double recovery is
presumptively fraudulent.” Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 8.
2. The Oil Companies’ Response.
The Oil Companies respond that, allowing the Government to amend its February 25, 2008
Answer at this junction is prima facie “undue delay,” because the Government has known about
the Oil Companies’ insurance coverage litigation since 1992. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am.
at 6–7. Specifically, in 1992, the Government sent a set of interrogatories to the Oil Companies
in the California District Court case to identify any involvement in insurance coverage litigation
related to the McColl site. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. A. In response, the Oil Companies disclosed the
citations of several insurance cases. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. B (2/17/98 exhibit list for California
have admitted that they have recovered response costs as overhead on other government contracts.
Gov’t Opp. at 18–22; see also Gov’t Reply at 1–3. The court considers these arguments to be
duplicative or without merit.
18
District Court). Moreover, during the 1998 CERCLA trial in the California District Court, the
Government introduced these exhibits as evidence. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. B.
In summary, the Government had actual knowledge of the existence of insurance coverage
litigation between the Oil Companies and their carriers as these suits were a matter of public
record. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 8–9. In addition, ARCO’s February 28, 1996 SEC
Form 10-K reported that a settlement was reached with several insurance companies for the
expense of cleanup costs. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. E. Likewise, Shell’s March 1, 1997 SEC Form 10-
K also disclosed that settlements were reached with some of its insurers for claims arising out of
operations from 1952 to 1982 at the United States Army’s Rocky Mountain Arsenal site. Pls.
Resp. App. Ex. F. In addition, a 1996 news article reported that Shell settled “a dispute that has
been dragging through the California courts for years.” Pls. Resp. App. Ex. G. Although ARCO’s
SEC Form 10-K, Shell’s SEC Form 10-K, and the 1996 news article did not identify the names
of the Oil Companies’ insurers, the Government “had more than enough information to know that
it was possible that Shell and Atlantic Richfield had recovered on their McColl insurance claims.”
Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 10.
Therefore, allowing the Government to interject fraud counterclaims would prejudice the
Oil Companies and “completely transform the litigation, expanding a relatively straightforward
trial on damages into a fraud inquiry,” and concern “the application of decades of comprehensive
general liability policies to environmental liabilities nationwide and extensive coverage litigation
against hundreds of insurers.” Pls. Resp. to Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 13–15. This would require
production of tens of thousands of documents and retention of experts to analyze insurance policies
and claims. Pls. Resp. to Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 16–17.
The Oil Companies also argue that the September 3, 2015 Motion For Leave To Amend’s
proposed counterclaims, based on Section 119 of the Contract Settlement Act and Section 2514 of
the Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act, have no basis in fact or law. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot.
To Am. at 18–19. First, the Oil Companies were under no legal duty to disclose any insurance
recoveries to the contracting officer in 2005. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 20; see 10/20/15
TR 12–13. For this reason, the Government did not cite a single case holding “that claimants have
an affirmative duty to disclose collateral insurance claims or recoveries.” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t
Mot. To Am. at 20. In fact, the “insurance contracts are separate from the breach and actually pre-
date the breach itself.” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 23. Therefore, any past insurance
coverage recoveries are remote from the Government’s breach at issue in this case. Pls. Resp. To
Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 23.
Second, offsetting the damages owed to the Oil Companies by their insurance coverage
recoveries is barred by the collateral source rule. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 23. The
collateral source rule prohibits reducing damages by the “collateral benefits received by the injured
party.” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 24. As a matter of law, “a breaching party is not
entitled to an offset of its liability where . . . the breach victim passes the costs of the breach to a
third party in a transaction that is not directly related to the breach.” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To
Am. at 20 (citing Southern Pac. Co. v. Darnell-Taenzer Lumber Co., 245 U.S. 531, 533 (1918)
(“The general tendency of the law, in regard to damages at least, is not to go beyond the first step.”)
and LaSalle Talman Bank, F.S.B. v. United States, 317 F.3d 1363, 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2003)
(recognizing “[t]he general rule . . . that unrelated events and remote consequences do not reduce
19
the liability of the wrongdoer for the losses caused by the wrong[.]”)). In other words, “‘[the
Government is] not permitted to avoid payment of full compensation for the injury inflicted merely
because the victim has had the foresight to provide himself with insurance.’” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t
Mot. To Am. at 24 (quoting Shelden v. United States, 34 Fed. Cl. 355, 372 (1995)). Moreover, an
insurance offset would be a windfall to the Government, the wrongdoer in this case. Pls. Resp. To
Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 24–25. Therefore, as a matter of law and policy, the court should apply the
collateral source rule to bar the Government from engaging in discovery of their insurance
coverage settlements.
Third, the Oil Companies could not have committed fraud under Section 119 of the
Contract Settlement Act or Section 2514 of the Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act, because the
existence of their insurance claims and the coverage litigation were a matter of public record. Pls.
Resp. App. Ex. B (2/17/98 exhibit list for California District Court trial); see also Pls. Resp. App.
Ex. E (ARCO’s 2/28/96 SEC Form 10-K); see also Pls. Resp. App. Ex. F (Shell’s 3/1/96 SEC
Form 10-K).
In addition, the proposed counterclaims are barred by relevant statutes of limitation. Pls.
Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 36. Section 119 of the Contract Settlement Act imposes civil
penalties subject to the five year statute of limitations in 28 U.S.C. § 2462.11 As a matter of law,
a claim of fraud accrues when a party’s alleged fraud occurs, not when it is discovered. Pls. Resp.
To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 37 (citing Gabelli v. SEC, 133 S. Ct. 1216–21 (2013) (“Petitioners argue
that a claim based on fraud accrues—and the . . . clock begins to tick—when a defendant’s
allegedly fraudulent conduct occurs. That is the most natural reading of the statute.”). In this case,
the Government contends that the Oil Companies engaged in fraud when they submitted their
claim to the GSA contracting officer on November 23, 2005, without disclosing prior insurance
coverage settlements. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 37. But, almost ten years have passed
since the Oil Companies submitted their contract claim. Therefore, the Government’s proposed
Section 119 counterclaim is time-barred.
As to the proposed Section 2514 of the Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act counterclaim,
28 U.S.C. § 250112 is the applicable statute of limitations. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 37;
11
28 U.S.C. § 2462, in relevant part, provides:
Except as otherwise provided by an Act of Congress, an action, suit or proceeding
for the enforcement of any civil fine, penalty, or forfeiture, pecuniary or otherwise,
shall not be entertained unless commenced within five years from the date when
the claim first accrued if, within the same period, the offender or the property is
found within the United States in order that proper service may be made thereon.
28 U.S.C. § 2462.
12
28 U.S.C. § 2501, in relevant part, provides:
“Every claim of which the United States Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction shall be
barred unless the petition thereon is filed within six years after such claim first accrues[.]” 28
U.S.C. § 2501.
20
see also SGW, Inc. v. United States, 20 Cl. Ct. 174, 181 (1990) (holding that “the only statute of
limitation applicable is the general six year statute of limitation” for the defendant’s special plea
in fraud claim). But, Section 2501 provides a time limit of “six years after such claim first
accrues.” 28 U.S.C. § 2501. Therefore, a Section 2514 claim accrues at the earliest time that a
defendant could have been aware of the alleged fraud. See TS Infosystems, Inc. v. United States,
36 Fed. Cl. 570, 574 (1996) (recognizing that “the six-year statute of limitations in 28 U.S.C. §
2501 applies to FFCA [Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act] claims made under 28 U.S.C. §
2514.”). In this case, the Government, knew about the Oil Companies’ insurance coverage
litigation in 1992. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. A (the Government’s 3/19/92 interrogatories). And, the
fact that these cases were settled was a matter of public knowledge prior to the time the Oil
Companies submitted their claim to the GSA on November 23, 2005. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. B
(2/17/98 exhibit list for California District Court trial); see also Pls. Resp. App. Ex. E (ARCO’s
2/28/96 SEC Form 10-K); see also Pls. Resp. App. Ex. F (Shell’s 3/1/96 SEC Form 10-K).
Therefore, the Government’s Section 2514 counterclaim also is time-barred. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t
Mot. To Am. at 39.
Additionally, a Section 2514 counterclaim cannot relate back to the original Answer,
because “‘[a] new pleading cannot relate back if the effect of the new pleading is to fault [a party]
for conduct different from that identified in the original [pleading].” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To
Am. at 39 (quoting Klamath Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 113 Fed. Cl. 688, 706 (2013))
(remand decision). Since the proposed fraud allegations fault the Oil Companies for conduct
different than that identified in the Government’s February 25, 2008 Answer, “[r]elation-back does
not help the Government.” Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 39. Moreover, there is no basis
for equitable tolling in this record. Pls. Resp. To Gov’t Mot. To Am. at 39–40.
3. The Government’s Reply.
The Government replies that its Motion For Leave To Amend was not unduly delayed.
Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 6. Although the Oil Companies disclosed that they settled some insurance
coverage claims before submitting a claim to the GSA on November 23, 2005, they did not
specifically disclose that they had recovered money from their insurance providers for the McColl
site. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 4. “Because [the Oil Companies] cannot show Government
knowledge of their fraud before 2015, the [O]il [C]ompanies cannot show [undue] delay.” Gov’t
Reply In Supp. at 5.
The Government again argues that the Oil Companies would not be prejudiced if the
Motion For Leave To Amend is granted, “because the [insurance] information is already in their
possession, extensive discovery is unnecessary.” Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 6. The Government
adds that the Oil Companies need not ascertain which insurance settlements were allocated to the
McColl site, because any CERCLA insurance settlements should be allocated to the McColl site
as a matter of law. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 7. Moreover, a party cannot “self-servingly and
retroactively attempt to allocate recovery so as to avoid another party’s rights.” Gov’t Reply at 7
(quoting Moore v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 70 F. Supp. 2d 9, 39 (D.D.C. 1999); see also Wheeler
v. Travelers Ins. Co., 22 F.3d 530, 534 (3d Cir. 1994) (holding that the plaintiff did not have
standing, because she would “be obliged to remit any payment she now receives.”).
21
The Government also contends that the Oil Companies’ failure to disclose their insurance
recoveries for the McColl site is an omission of a material fact, which is sufficient to support a
finding of fraud. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 16. Even assuming that the Oil Companies can show
that they reasonably concluded that their insurance recoveries were not material, “their decision
not to reveal their analysis illustrates fraudulent intent.” Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 13. Indeed, if
the Oil Companies “truly believed their plan to receive double payment and lack of incurred costs
was not ‘material’ . . . then the [O]il [C]ompanies would have disclosed both the receipt of the
insurance payment and their explanation why the taxpayers should be required to make a
payment.” Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 13–14. Therefore, the Oil Companies’ knowledge and intent
are “issues of fact that must be resolved through discovery and trial.” Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 13.
In addition, the remote transactions rule that the Oil Companies cite is inapplicable. Gov’t
Reply In Supp. at 9. That rule allows a court to “terminate inquiry into recovery of costs when the
act by which the recovery occurred was not directly related to the breach.” Gov’t Reply In Supp.
at 9. Here, “[t]here is no basis to argue that payment of costs by insurers is irrelevant.” Gov’t
Reply In Supp. at 9. That is why the Oil Companies did not cite to a single case where the court
applied the remote transaction rule to insurance recoveries in calculating damages. Gov’t Reply
In Supp. at 9.
Likewise, the collateral source rule is inapplicable, because it arises “primarily in
connection with tort damages.” Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 9–10. This is a routine breach of contract
case. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 9. The Oil Companies do not suggest that the Government has
acted tortiously. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 10. “In the absence of wrongful action, which the mere
fact of a breach of contract is not, the collateral source rule cannot apply.” Gov’t Reply In Supp.
at 11.
Finally, the proposed counterclaims based on Section 119 of the Contract Settlement Act
and Section 2514 of the Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act are not time-barred. Gov’t Reply In
Supp. at 18. As to the proposed Section 2514 counterclaim, the Government argues that the statute
of limitations in 28 U.S.C. § 241513 applies. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 18–19 (citing Am. Heritage
Bancorp v. United States, 56 Fed. Cl. 596, 606 (2003) (“[T]he court finds that when 28 U.S.C. §
13
Section 2415, in relevant part, provides:
The provisions of this section shall not prevent the assertion, in an action against
the United States or an officer or agency thereof, of any claim of the United States
or an officer or agency thereof against an opposing party, a co-party, or a third party
that arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the
opposing party's claim. A claim of the United States or an officer or agency thereof
that does not arise out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of
the opposing party's claim may, if time-barred, be asserted only by way of offset
and may be allowed in an amount not to exceed the amount of the opposing party’s
recovery.
28 U.S.C. § 2415.
22
2501 is read in light of 28 U.S.C. § 2415, there is no statute of limitations applicable to the
government’s Special Plea in Fraud counterclaim.”). Section 2415 permits the Government to
assert any claim without limit, if it arises out of the same transaction that is the subject matter of
the plaintiff’s claim. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 19 (emphasis added). The Government’s proposed
counterclaims arise from the Oil Companies’ claim to the GSA. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 19–20.
Moreover, even if, the statute of limitations has run it should be equitably tolled, because where a
party has been injured by fraud and “‘remains in ignorance of it without any fault or want of
diligence or care on his part,’” the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the fraud is
discovered. Gov’t Reply In Supp. at 19–20 (quoting SGW Inc., 20 Cl. Ct. at 181).
4. The Court’s Resolution.
The Government’s Motion For Leave To Amend Its Answer requests permission to assert
affirmative defenses and two counterclaims—one based on Section 119 of the Contract Settlement
Act, 41 U.S.C. § 119, and one based upon the Special Plea in Fraud, 28 U.S.C. § 2514.14 RCFC
13(a)(1)15 requires that compulsory counterclaims must be set forth in a pleading. The
Government’s February 25, 2008 Answer did not assert either proposed counterclaim. As such,
in order to assert these counterclaims now, the Government must amend its Answer. See RCFC
15(a)(2).16
Generally, “[i]n the absence of any apparent or declared reason—such as undue delay . . .
undue prejudice to the opposing party . . . futility of amendment, etc.—the leave [to amend] sought
should, as the rules require, be ‘freely given.’” See Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S.178, 182 (1962).
“Delay alone, [however,] even without a demonstration of prejudice, has thus been sufficient
14
In the September 3, 2015 Motion For Leave To Amend, the Government did not specify
whether it also would assert an insurance offset affirmative defense.
15
RCFC 13(a)(1), in relevant part, provides:
A pleading must state as a counterclaim any claim that—at the time of its service—
the pleader has against an opposing party if the claim:
(A) arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the
opposing party’s claim; and
(B) does not require adding another party over whom the court cannot acquire
jurisdiction.
RCFC 13(a)(1).
16
RCFC 15(a)(2), in relevant part, provides, “In all other cases, a party may amend its
pleading only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave. The court should
freely give leave when justice so requires.”
23
grounds to deny amendment of pleadings.” Te-Moak Bands of Western Shoshone Indians of
Nevada v. U.S., 948 F.2d 948 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
The Government cites two cases in support of the proposition that Shell’s insurance
coverage recoveries must be deducted from damages arising from a breach of the Avgas Contracts.
Gov’t Reply at 7 (citing Moore 70 F. Supp. 2d at 39 and Wheeler, 22 F.3d at 538). Both cases,
however, are inapplicable. Moore concerned the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
(“ERISA”), but ERISA preempts the application of any other laws, decisions, rules, and
regulations. See Moore, 70 F. Supp. 2d at 18 (“Congress intended ERISA to provide a
comprehensive and exclusive civil enforcement scheme that would protect the interests . . . of
ERISA-plan participants[.]”) (emphasis added). The relevant statute in this case is the Tucker Act
and the court’s rules of practice and procedure, namely RCFC 13(a) govern how and when a claim
must be raised. In Wheeler, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that the
plaintiff did not have standing, because she would be obligated “to remit any payment she now
receives from Travelers to [the] Medicare program, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1395y(b)(1) (1982).”17
See Wheeler, 22 F.3d at 538. The relevant statute in that case mandated that any health insurance
payment that a Medicare plan participant received for covered services must be remitted to the
United States. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395y(b)(1) (1982). As the Government points out, CERCLA may
prevent a party from receiving “compensation for removal costs or damages or claims and
compensation under another federal or state law,” and receiving “compensation for the same
removal costs or damages or claims[.]” 42 U.S.C. § 9614(b); see also 10/20/15 TR 21. But, the
United States Court of Federal Claims’ Tucker Act jurisdiction does not extend to adjudicating
limitations on CERCLA recovery. Claims arising under CERCLA are the exclusive province of
the United States District Courts.18
The relevant facts here are that the Government was on notice in 1992, that the Oil
Companies were involved in insurance coverage litigation. Pls. Resp. App. Ex. A (the
Government’s 3/19/1992 interrogatories). In 1997, during a Joint Status Conference before the
17
Section 1395y(b)(1) of the Social Security Act Title XVIII, in relevant part, provides:
Payment . . . may not be made with respect to any item or service to the
extent that payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made . . .
with respect to such item or service, under a workmen’s compensation law or plan
of the United States or a State or under an automobile or liability insurance policy
or plan (including a self-insured plan) or under no fault insurance. Any payment
made . . . with respect to any item or service shall be conditioned on reimbursement
to the appropriate Trust Fund . . . when notice or other information is received that
payment for such item or service has been made under such a law, policy, plan, or
insurance.
42 U.S.C. §1395y(b)(1) (1982).
18
Section 9613 of CERCLA, in relevant part, provides, “[t]he United States district courts
shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over all controversies arising under this chapter [of
CERCLA]” 42 U.S.C. § 9613 (1982).
24
California District Court, the Government also stated, “The United States has long known that
. . . the Oil Company Defendants actively litigated claims against their insurance carriers, in which
they alleged that any liability for . . . the McColl Site was an ‘occurrence’ within the meaning of
their insurance policies[.]” Pls. Reply App. Ex. B. Therefore, at the very least, the Government
knew that the Oil Companies had made insurance coverage claims that likely included the McColl
site, well before the allegedly fraudulent conduct—the Oil Companies’ submission of their claim
to the GSA in November 2005. Thus, the Government’s argument that it could not have raised its
proposed fraud counterclaims in its Answer before 2015 is simply not credible. Likewise, the
Government’s excuse that “we were snookered” and “the victims of fraud” is not supported by the
record. 10/20/15 TR 13–14.
The CERCLA litigation between the United States and the Oil Companies began more than
twenty years ago and it has been ten years since this case was transferred to the United States Court
of Federal Claims. To permit the Government to assert fraud counterclaims “substantially changes
the theory on which the case has been proceeding[.]” Cencast Services, L.P. v. United States, 729
F.3d 1352, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (quoting 6 WRIGHT & MILLER § 1487 (3d ed. 2013)).
Finally, it did not escape the court’s attention that the Government improperly advised the
court that “[t]here is no statute of limitations for the special plea on fraud.” 10/20/15 TR 14. But,
the predecessor to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has held “the only
statute of limitations applicable is the general six-year statute of limitations” in a Government
special plea in fraud claim case. See SGW, Inc., 29 Cl. Ct. at 181. Here the “fraud” alleged by the
Government is the claim the Oil Companies submitted to GSA in 2005. Therefore, the statute of
limitations has run. In addition, the six-year statute of limitations in 28 U.S.C. § 2501 applies to
FFCA claims alleged under 28 U.S.C. § 2514 now bars the Government from litigating a FFCA
claim in this case.
For these reasons, the court has determined the Government’s Motion For Leave To
Amend Its February 25, 2008 Answer is late and baseless.19
19
One of the Government’s more disingenuous arguments in support of its Motion for
Leave to Amend concerned the October 20, 2015 oral argument.
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: The [G]overnment was . . . supposed to be an
additional insured on these policies, and that’s one of the things we’re asking for is
the insurance policies to see if the taxpayers would have been covered, and, in fact,
if the [O]il [C]ompanies had settled the Government rights.
THE COURT: So you waited all these years even though you knew the litigation
was going on, that was my point before, in 1992 or whenever the litigation was,
these cases are going on, you just kind of sat around. You weren’t very curious
about whether you had any rights to those policies at that point. I mean, typically,
you know, if you think somebody else has your money, you would want to
intervene and say, it’s my money.
25
III. CONCLUSION.
For these reasons, the Oil Companies’ April 10, 2015 Motion For Partial Summary
Judgment is granted. The Oil Companies’ April 10, 2015 Motion For A Protective Order is denied
as moot. The Government’s May 15, 2015 Cross-Motion For Partial Summary Judgment is
denied. The Government’s September 3, 2015 Motion for Leave To Amend is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Susan G. Braden
SUSAN G. BRADEN
Judge
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: Well, we —
THE COURT: Or interplead.
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: We’re unaware of any basis for the [G]overnment
to then . . . proceed under a direct action theory against insurance companies in state
court litigation.
THE COURT: Well, you said taxpayer was on these insurance policies, wouldn’t
that be a reason?
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: We would like to see those insurance policies
because it’s likely the taxpayers are, but we don’t know. We don’t know because
that’s part of the discovery we’ve asked for.
THE COURT: So the [G]overnment was [a] party to [the] insurance, they had
access to insurance policies or they were . . . named on the insurance policies but
they don’t have copies of the policies, and so you want to now know whether you
really were on the policy or not and —
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: That’s part of what we want. All we need to do —
THE COURT: And this Court, that’s what I’m supposed to get involved with, huh?
GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: Yes, exactly, the Court is supposed to get involved
with the amount of damages that —
THE COURT: Well, I intend to do that. With trial coming up, I’m not changing
the [February 16, 2016] date[.]
10/20/15 TR 19–20.
26