Judge Peter Moulton ordered an overhaul of the rules that govern asbestos-litigation cases. Trials are allowed to continue as new rules are being developed. New Rules must be developed or the Judge threatened to make them himself, however no timetable was set for this to be accomplished by.
Amanda Harrold
19 Oct. 2015
Eric T Schneiderman filed lawsuit to compel EPA to revise national air quality standards
New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman filed a suit which asks the Court to force the EPA to adopt new air pollution standards on a deadline. This lawsuit is specifically aimed at reducing the amount of soot particles in the air. It is a coalition of 11 states which believe the EPA passed a previous deadline to enact stricter air quality regulations by October 17, 2011. This lawsuit was successful and demanded the EPA to set new standards by June 7, 2012 (see second link). This does not only pertain to NYC but shows an example of NYC taking the lead on an air pollution case.
Amanda Harrold
19 Oct. 2015
Lawsuit by National Resources Defense Council and Mothers on the Move against sewage odors in South Bronx
A nuisance lawsuit was filed on July 9, 2008 against the foul odors from the Hunts Point Sewage Plant and Human waste and biosolids fertilizer facility. These plants are located on either side of a public park which is little used due to the odor and NRDC claimed the defendants were not taking "reasonable available steps today" and accused them of using South Bronx as a dumping ground. The lawsuit was settled on June 30, 2010. An independent evaluation of the odors was to be performed, the last load of sewage sludge was brought to the fertilizer facility for at least two years, and an acre of waterfront green space was to be cleared for community use.
http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/victory-ag-schneiderman-led-lawsuit-requires-epa-propose-new-soot-air-pollution
http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080709.asp