State and federal officials have announced a “landmark settlement” that will yield the largest-ever civil penalty under the Clean Air Act and the second largest in federal environmental litigation.

Under two consent decrees filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, Cummins Inc., an Indiana-based engine manufacturer, will pay $1.675 billion to resolve federal and state claims that certain Cummins diesel engines contained “defeat devices” that bypassed emissions controls. Cummins will also take other remedial steps — including recalls — that are anticipated to cost the company another $325 million.

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Joe Dworetzky is a second career journalist. He practiced law in Philadelphia for more than 35 years, representing private and governmental clients in commercial litigation and insolvency proceedings. Joe served as City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia under Mayor Ed Rendell and from 2009 to 2013 was one of five members of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission with responsibility for managing the city’s 250 public schools. He moved to San Francisco in 2011 and began writing fiction and pursuing a lifelong interest in editorial cartooning. Joe earned a Master’s in Journalism from Stanford University in 2020. He covers Legal Affairs and writes long form Investigative stories. His occasional cartooning can be seen in Bay Area Sketchbook. Joe encourages readers to email him story ideas and leads at joe.dworetzky@baycitynews.com.