2007 Minnesota Statutes

18D.111 LIABILITY FOR COSTS.
    Subdivision 1. Corrective action costs. (a) A responsible party is liable for the costs,
including for a corrective action administrative cost incurred after the corrective action order has
been issued, or for emergency corrective action, all costs. The commissioner may issue an order
for recovery of the costs.
(b) A responsible party is liable for the costs of any destruction to wildlife. Payments of costs
for wildlife destruction shall be deposited in the game and fish fund of the state treasury.
    Subd. 2. Owner of real property. An owner of real property is not a responsible party for an
incident on the owner's property unless that owner:
(1) was engaged in manufacturing, formulating, transporting, storing, handling, applying,
distributing, or disposing of an agricultural chemical on the property;
(2) knowingly permitted any person to make regular use of the property for disposal of
agricultural chemicals; or
(3) violated this chapter in a way that contributed to the incident.
    Subd. 3. Liability for employees. A person licensed under chapter 18B or 18C is civilly
liable for violations of this chapter, chapter 18B, or 18C by the person's employees and agents.
    Subd. 4. Avoidance of liability. (a) A responsible party may not avoid liability by means of
a conveyance of a right, title, or interest in real property, or by an indemnification, hold harmless
agreement, or similar agreement.
(b) This subdivision does not:
(1) prohibit a person who may be liable from entering an agreement by which the person is
insured, held harmless, or indemnified for part or all of the liability;
(2) prohibit the enforcement of an insurance, hold harmless, or indemnification agreement; or
(3) bar a cause of action brought by a person who may be liable or by an insurer or guarantor,
whether by right of subrogation or otherwise.
    Subd. 5. Defense. As a defense to a penalty or liability for damages, a person may prove
that a violation was caused solely by an act of God, an act of war, or an act or failure to act that
constitutes sabotage or vandalism, or a combination of these defenses.
History: 1989 c 326 art 7 s 5