George H. Buermann
Partner
George H. Buermann, vice chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Environmental Law practice, advises clients on complex environmental regulatory and compliance matters and litigates environmental and toxic tort disputes across the country. George offers clients in-depth knowledge of the state and federal regulations governing such disputes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and others.
He also litigates matters involving contamination and exposure to chemicals and substances such as lead, PFAS, 1,4-Dioxane, TCE, mold, and benzene. In addition to handling adversarial matters, George helps clients avoid litigation by providing strategic advice regarding federal and state regulatory and environmental compliance issues. His experience also includes handling construction losses and defects, as well as torts involving commercial property.
George regularly writes and lectures on emerging environmental issues impacting the regulated industry and serves as co-editor of Goldberg Segalla’s Environmental Law Monitor, the firm’s weekly environmental blog publication.
Experience Highlights
- Obtained dismissal of complaint for municipality in citizen suit alleging violations of the Clean Water Act, including nitrogen exceedances at city’s wastewater treatment plant
- Represent petroleum recycling facility in a cost recovery action by the U.S. EPA in New Jersey
- Defend and advise former property owner involving Passaic River Superfund mega-site with respect to multi-party regulatory investigation, allocation issues, and litigation.
- Advise real estate management company regarding alleged lead contamination in building’s drinking water system in New York
- Defending leading manufacturer of underground fuel piping and containment systems involving damage to the environment, real property, and the surrounding community at commercial shopping center’s power plant and underground USTs
- Representing multinational chemical company in a train derailment investigation in Wisconsin wherein the local water supply was threatened
- Representing interests of oil and gas drilling company in Oklahoma involving pipeline leak and resultant contamination to environment and waterways
- Defended personal storage facility owner in NJ Spill Act cost recovery action involving historic contamination and eminent domain and condemnation issues
- Representing national recycling company in CERCLA cost recovery action involving CRT waste disposal at e-waste recycling facility in Ohio
- Representing interests of school system involving historic environmental contamination and alleged exposure at site in upstate New York
- Obtained dozens of dismissals on behalf of international and domestic manufacturers involving allegations of toxic exposure to products ranging from forklifts, commercial paint products, marine motors, to railway cars
- Dismissal of triple wrongful death carbon monoxide poisoning action on behalf of manufacturer of low-torque motors utilized in decedents’ heating system
- Defended remediation company involving allegations of resultant asbestos migration from remedial measures throughout condominium complex and damage to real and personal property throughout complex
- Obtained dismissal of New York Navigation Law cause of action on behalf of remediation company involving allegations of exacerbation of oil contamination during cleanup and remedial operations
- Dismissal of action on behalf of gasoline station / property owner involving allegations of groundwater contamination to New York municipality’s drinking water supply, and upheld by the Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division
- Representing numerous property owners/managers, product manufacturers/distributors, and remediation companies in actions concerning lead exposure to children, adults, and surrounding neighborhoods
- Defended Fortune 500 Company in CERCLA / Superfund action involving environmental contamination from tannery in upstate New York
- Representing the manufacturer of machines involved in dry cleaning in a matter involving allegations of defective design pertaining to causal link between exposure to dry-cleaning solvent PERC and alleged disease
Admissions
- New York
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Western, and Northern Districts of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, J.D., 2001
- University of Vermont, B.A., 1997
Professional Affiliations
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
Community Involvement
- Coach, Glen Rock, NJ Youth Lacrosse League, 2016 to present
Publications & Events
- Co-editor and Contributor, Goldberg Segalla’s Environmental Law Monitor blog: read George’s blog posts here
- “Microplastics: The Looming Challenges, Pitfalls, and Uncertainties Facing the Regulated Community and Beyond,” (Co-Author), DRI For the Defense, June 2021
- Quoted in “After Covid, Get Ready to Get Sued,” Corporate Board Member, April 21, 2021
- Quoted in “You Are What You Eat,” Leader’s Edge, January 21, 2020
- “PFAS Update: Unregulated (Mostly), Uncertain, and Ubiquitous,” (Co-Author), DRI Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Newsletter, June 2018
- “Environmental Pitfalls of PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane,” (Co-Author), DRI For the Defense, June 2018
- “At Risk: Our Nation’s Drinking Water Supply,” (Co-Author), Mealey’s Emerging Toxic Torts, October 17, 2017
- “Forecasting Rough Waters on the Horizon: EPA Overreach and the Clean Water Act,” (Co-Author), Mealey’s Pollution Liability Report, November 2016
- “Reckoning with Microplastics: The Looming Challenges, Pitfalls, and Uncertainties,” Panelist, 36th Environmental and Emerging Claim Manager Association Annual Conference, April 21, 2022
- “PFAS Update,” (Co-Presenter), Emerging Risks CE/CLE, March 15, 2022
- “Microplastics: A Brief Background,” (Co-Presenter), Emerging Risks CE/CLE, March 15, 2022
- “Microplastics: The Looming Challenges, Pitfalls and Uncertainties Facing the Regulated Community, and Beyond,” (Moderator), Perrin Conferences Environmental Risk and Litigation Conference, New York, NY, October 18, 2021
- “PFAS 2.0,” (Co-Presenter), June 30, 2021
- “Environmental Liabilities: Hot Topics and Trends Facing Insureds” (Co-Presenter), February 20, 2020
- “Overcoming Challenges in Risk Assessment When Facing Emerging Contaminants,” In-house Insurance CLE Seminar, Exton, PA, December 11, 2019
- “PFAS 2.0 — Looming Litigation, Regulation Updates, Compliance and Risk Management Strategies,” (Co-Presenter), EECMA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, May 2, 2019
- “Mitigating Risk: Environmental Due Diligence in Real Property Transactions,” (Co-Presenter), In-house Insurance Seminar, Exton, PA, April 16, 2019
- “Effective Planning and Preparation of Emergency Action Plans, Media Strategy, and Placement of Insurance To Mitigate Environmental Disasters and Emergencies,” (Co-Presenter), CLM Southeast Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 8, 2018
- “Defending Carbon Monoxide Exposure Claims” (Co-Presenter), New York Insurance Seminar, August 15, 2018
- “CERCLA and Complex Allocation Issues” (Co-Presenter), In-House Insurance Seminar, New York City, NY, June 27, 2018
- “Lead Poisoning Claims — Ways to Defend, Mitigate, and Allocate Risk to Minimize Liability and Damages Exposure” (Co-Presenter), Insurance Seminar, Hartford, CT, May 21, 2018
- “The Triple Threat from PFAS-Related Chemicals: Toxic Tort, Product Liability, and Environmental Cleanups” (Co-Presenter), EECMA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, April 26, 2018
- “Emerging Unregulated Contaminants – Impacts and Threats to Our Nation’s Drinking Water Supply” (Co-Presenter), NYC Insurance Seminar, NY, NY, April 11, 2018
- “Effective Mitigation Tools for Environmental Crisis Management”(Co-Presenter), GS Containing Environmental Disasters Seminars, Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia, January 22-25, 2018
- “Environmental Cost Recovery Actions: Keys to Success and Pitfalls to Avoid” (Presenter), CLM Southeast Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 2, 2017
- “Emerging Contaminants and Trends in Environmental and Toxic Torts” (Co-Presenter), New York State Bar Association, June 9, 2017
- “Uncharted Waters: Keys to Navigate Risks and Defend Lawsuits that Arise from Contamination in our Nation’s Drinking Water Supply” (Co-Presenter), Goldberg Segalla Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Seminar, May 23, 2017
- “Federal and State Environmental Regulatory Procedures” (Co-Presenter), Goldberg Segalla Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Seminar, May 23, 2017
- “Environmental Trends in Environmental Cost Recovery Actions” (Presenter), Virginia Insurance Seminar, Richmond, VA, December 7, 2016
- “Tips for Success and Pitfalls to Avoid in Environmental Cost Recovery Actions” (Presenter), Virginia Insurance Seminar, Richmond, VA, December 7, 2016
- “Environmental Spill Litigation in New York and New Jersey” (Presenter), Virginia Insurance Seminar, Richmond, VA, December 7, 2016
- “Identifying, Avoiding, Mitigating, and Insuring Environmental Risk in Construction” (Presenter), CLM Southwest Conference, Dallas, TX, November 3, 2016
- “EPA — Impacts arising out of the Clean Water Act, The Clean Water Rule, and The Potential Ripple Effect From The Chesapeake Bay TMDL” (Presenter), Toxic Tort/Environmental Scouting Report Seminar, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2016
- “Hydraulic Fracturing – Emerging Regulatory & Litigation Issues and Trends” (Presenter), Toxic Tort/Environmental Scouting Report Seminar, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2016
- “Microplastics: An Overview of the Emerging Risks,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, October 19, 2021
- “Environmental Compliance Amidst A Health Crisis: Essential Sites, Key Reporting Requirements, and Managing The Aftermath,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, May 14, 2020
- “Environmental Due Diligence and Disclosures: Challenges Posed By Emerging Contaminants,” (Presenter) GS Webinar Series, October 17, 2019
- “Avoiding Surprise: Unregulated Chemicals and Mitigating Risk,” (Co-Presenter), Perrin Environmental Webinar, May 14, 2019
- “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Highly Anticipated ATSDR Report on PFAS,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, October 4, 2018
- “Environmental Emergency Action Plans, Media Response Strategy, and Advance Planning Strategies for Environmental Crises,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, January 17, 2018
- “Superfund Update – CERCLA and State Cost Recovery Actions” (Co-Presenter), Perrin Conference Webinar, August 2, 2017
- “Allocating CERCLA Liability” (Presenter), GS Webinar Series, April 21, 2017
- “Clean Water Act and Emerging Trends,” (Presenter), GS Webinar Series, September 30, 2016
- “Roughwaters on the Horizon — EPA Overreach Involving the Clean Water Act” (Presenter), Webinar, September 30, 2016
Recent Insights
Turning Trash to Treasure: The Fiscal Case for Revisiting Pollution and Waste Management
September 20, 2021
Natural Capital: A Paradigm Shift in Valuing the Environment
August 10, 2021
Stationary Source Emission Regulations: Why Businesses Stand to Benefit from Anticipatory Action
July 14, 2021