- Let's say that an individual (Bert) is interested in purchasing 10 acres of land in Magnolia from the seller (Ernie). Bert plans to raise cattle on the land so he's concerned with what the land had been previously used for. He hires an environmental consultant to run some tests and evaluate the parcel of land. The consultant reports back to Bert stating that the land looks to be in good condition. Bert purchases the land from Ernie and starts raising cattle on the land but the cattle start getting sick and some of them die. A veterinary comes out and determines that the cattle are getting sick from toxic material from the ground that seems to have been there well before Bert's purchase of the land. Who would be liable for damages and what would the damages be