Judge Wayne has tried, arbitrated, mediated, and served as a discovery referee on numerous cases involving major oil companies, government agencies, developers, and other private companies regarding toxic and chemical pollution issues, remediation of soil and ground water, toxic waste dumpsites, and compliance with CEQA.
She has a reputation for successfully resolving complex cases, using innovative techniques to help the parties reach agreement. She brings to disputes the ability to focus on problematic areas and bring the parties to consensus. Representative Matters
- Decided environmental cases ranging from oil drilling in the City of Hermosa Beach, pipeline and refinery usages, coverage liability, and chemical explosions at oil refineries to major soil and ground water contamination.
- Evaluated scores of Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) involving both commercial and residential development projects in Los Angeles County.
- Mediated environmental case alleging extensive devaluation of an industrial complex because of an oil plume.
- Arbitrated 12-year dispute between California Department of Fish and Games and a golf course concerning issues of endangered species and wildlife.
- Decided hundreds of CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) cases, including the following CEQA challenges:
Leona Valley Town Council v. City of Palmdale (CEQA review of a major residential and commercial development)
Malibu Village Civic Association v. City of Malibu (CEQA challenge to major Malibu development)
Water Garden Associates v. City Council (certification of an EIR for a large commercial development)
Landfill Alternatives v. City of L.A. (challenge to an EIR regarding a landfill in the City of Los Angeles)
Sanborn Theatres v. City of West Covina (EIR regarding construction plans for a theatre and restaurant complex)
Hondel v. City of Norwalk (challenge to adequacy of City’s general plan)
Leto v. South Coast Air Quality Management District (charge that government agency failed to properly review an EIR for a reformulated gasoline project)
- Served as discovery referee for several years in major toxic tort class action involving 100,000 litigants and alleged ground water pollution from toxic chemicals affecting a city's water supply. As discovery referee, Judge Wayne organized all discovery, supervised (at the request of attorneys) all major depositions of litigants and expert witnesses, and was involved in establishing protocols for the medical testing program, as well as setting litigation time parameters.
