Monty Cooper
Overview
Harmon L. (Monty) Cooper is both a counselor and trial lawyer, focusing on product liability, environmental, and complex civil litigation. He has litigated a wide variety of tort, product liability, and commercial cases across the country, advising clients in high-exposure litigation in numerous venues. He has defended major oil companies in product-liability litigation and property-damage claims arising from environmental issues.
Career & Education
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Law Clerk, Hon. Patrick Michael Duffy, 2004–2005 - Maryland
Special Assistant State’s Attorney, Prince George's County, 2014
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
- Georgetown University, B.A., American studies
- College of William & Mary, M.P.P., public policy
- College of William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law, J.D., notes editor, William and Mary Law Review
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Council Member: American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
- Board Member: Environment and Energy Study Institute
- Corporate Counsel Conference CLE Planning Committee Member, National Bar Association Commercial Law Section
Monty's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24
On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.” This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.25.24
JUST RELEASED: EPA’s Bold New Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Collaboration Policy
Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.31.24
EPA Updates Its CERCLA and RCRA Soil-Lead Screening Levels With Stricter Standards In New Guidance
Representative Matters
- Representing an oil company as national litigation counsel, in federal courts, including the District of Maryland, in numerous MTBE cases in which private water companies, public water utilities, and state agencies allege that MTBE is a defective and unreasonably dangerous product that has contaminated public drinking water supplies.
- Successfully defended a major U.S. automobile manufacturer at trial in a wrongful death suit involving claims of alleged defective brakes. After a week-long jury trial in a Maryland (Montgomery County) Circuit Court, the company obtained a defense verdict.
- Representing a financial institution in negotiations with state environmental protection departments, including concerning the remediation and sale of contaminated property (e.g., brownfields). Relevant laws include environmental due diligence and property-transfer rules in multiple states.
- Successfully represented a technology company in cases implicating Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which provides immunity to online platforms from civil liability based on third-party content.
- Successfully represented an oil company, in federal court in the District of Arizona, against CERCLA and common-law claims seeking contribution for environmental remediation costs.
- Advised energy companies regarding environmental-related requirements and tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022.
- Advised a government contractor concerning compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) health and safety regulations and guidance.
- Advised a locomotive manufacturer regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability initiatives proposed by the Biden administration and counseled an oil company concerning the creation of an internal ESG risk matrix.
- Provided counsel to mining companies regarding regulatory and legislative matters related to the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
- Successfully defended a global information-technology company, in federal court in the District of Columbia, in product liability litigation brought by plaintiffs claiming catastrophic injuries from an allegedly defective electronic device.
Monty's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24
On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.” This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.25.24
JUST RELEASED: EPA’s Bold New Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Collaboration Policy
Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.31.24
EPA Updates Its CERCLA and RCRA Soil-Lead Screening Levels With Stricter Standards In New Guidance
Recognition
- Thomson Reuters Names 16 Crowell Lawyers as “Stand-out Lawyers”
- The National Black Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers, 2021
- Washington Business Journal: 40 Under 40 for Greater Washington, D.C., 2018
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland: Exceptional Service Award, 2017
- Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers: Rising Stars, 2013-2015
- National Bar Association: Nation’s Best Advocates, 40 Lawyers Under 40 Award
- Lawyers of Color: Inaugural Hot List, Mid-Atlantic Region
- Prince George’s County (MD) Social Innovation Fund: 40 Under 40 Award
- Next City (National Urban-Affairs Magazine): Vanguard Award
- Leadership Maryland, Class of 2015
- Maryland’s The Daily Record: VIP List, 2015
Monty's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24
On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.” This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.25.24
JUST RELEASED: EPA’s Bold New Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Collaboration Policy
Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.31.24
EPA Updates Its CERCLA and RCRA Soil-Lead Screening Levels With Stricter Standards In New Guidance
Insights
Recent FTC Guidance On The Use Of Artificial Intelligence And Algorithms In The Age Of COVID-19
|09.01.20
The Computer & Internet Lawyer
The Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA) and its Impact on Environmental Enforcement
|07.01.18
ABA Environmental Litigation and Toxic Torts Committee Newsletter, Vol. 19, No. 3
Rosebrock v. Eastern Shore Emergency Physicians LLC: Maryland Court of Special Appeals Analyzes Habit Evidence — MD Rule 5-406
|06.01.15
The Maryland Litigator, Maryland State Bar Association, Litigation Section
Glenn v. GSX Trans., Inc. and the Licensee/Invitee/Trespasser Distinction in Maryland Tort Law
|02.01.15
The Maryland Litigator, Maryland State Bar Association, Litigation Section
Hasley v. Ward Mfg. and Maryland’s Economic-Loss Rule’s Public-Safety Exception
|10.01.14
The Maryland Litigator, Maryland State Bar Association, Litigation Section
Passing the Smell Test: Twombly, Iqbal, and a California Federal Court’s Requirement of More Specificity in Complaint Against Defendants
|08.01.12
Australian Product Liability Reporter
Thomson Reuters Names 16 Crowell Lawyers as “Stand-out Lawyers”
|03.07.23
CPSC Publishes Report on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
|06.03.21
Crowell & Moring’s Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
Monty's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 05.08.24
On April 19, 2024, EPA signed the highly anticipated final rule designating two types of PFAS as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). At the same time, David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance of the EPA, released an enforcement policy memorandum that provides “direction to all EPA enforcement and compliance staff about how EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under CERCLA in matters involving PFAS, just as EPA exercises enforcement discretion regarding other hazardous substances.” This alert summarizes key points from the enforcement policy and flags various uncertainties that lie ahead.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.25.24
JUST RELEASED: EPA’s Bold New Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Collaboration Policy
Client Alert | 3 min read | 01.31.24
EPA Updates Its CERCLA and RCRA Soil-Lead Screening Levels With Stricter Standards In New Guidance