Environmental Law: New Deadlines for Citizen Suits and Faster Court Rulings.
This law changes the rules for how citizens can sue companies or the government for violating clean air, water, and endangered species protection laws. It extends the required waiting period before filing a lawsuit from 60 to 120 days. Crucially, it introduces a strict 120-day deadline to actually commence the lawsuit after the waiting period ends; failure to meet this deadline means the right to sue based on the initial notice expires.
Key points
The mandatory notice period before citizens can file a lawsuit under the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts is extended from 60 days to 120 days.
A strict new deadline is imposed: if the lawsuit is not filed within 120 days after the notice period expires, the citizen loses the right to commence the action based on that notice.
Appellate courts must issue final judgments in these environmental cases within a maximum of one year, aiming to speed up legal resolution.
Expired
Citizen Poll