Real-Time Court Decisions and Other Developments in Asbestos Litigation.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, New York City — and New York City Asbestos Litigation or NYCAL — continues to hold its position as a judicial hellhole in 2024. However, New York City was once ranked second; it is now ranked third, so perhaps this can be considered an improvement. The 2023-2024 Judicial Hellholes report is intended to … Continued
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Plaintiff Harry Marsh worked as a merchant mariner from 1944 to 1992. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2018 and subsequently sued the owner of every vessel he worked on over his lengthy career. Defendants included appellees Chas Kurz & Co. Inc., Chiquita Brands International Inc., Farrell … Continued
Court: Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County (NYCAL) This asbestos matter involves a motion filed by plaintiff to consolidate two asbestos actions. In New York, “when actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before a court, the court, upon motion . . . may order the … Continued
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina In this mesothelioma matter, the Supreme Court of South Carolina granted a writ of certiorari to review decisions of the South Carolina Court of Appeals affirming (1) the trial court’s denial of Scapa Waycross Inc.’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict based on the insufficiency of the evidence as … Continued
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District, Houston In this asbestos action, a Texas Appellate Court reversed and remanded the grant of a no-evidence summary judgment motion as to defendant Howmet Aerospace Inc., f/k/a Arconic, Inc., f/k/a Alcoa, Inc. (“Alcoa”). The surviving husband and children of decedent Carolyn Burford asserted wrongful death and survival … Continued
Court: Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department In this asbestos action, defendant Jenkins Bros. sought a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, a new trial, or remittitur of a verdict awarding plaintiff $13 million for past pain and suffering and $10 million for future pain and suffering. The trial court declined to vacate the … Continued
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana In this asbestos action, plaintiff Ted Matherne Sr. worked at the Avondale Shipyards. In addition, defendant Hopeman Brothers Inc. placed Micarta from Westinghouse “as a component part of the composite wall and bulkhead panels it suppled to Avondale for use aboard ships.” Defendant Paramount … Continued
Court: Supreme Court of New York, New York County Plaintiff-Decedent John Gonder alleged exposure to asbestos during his employment as a Con Edison inspector between the 1970s and 1990s. He died in May 2021 at 86 years old from lung cancer. Defendant Jenkins Bros. filed a motion for summary judgment on the basis that Gonder … Continued
Jurisdiction: Supreme Court of New York, New York County Defendant Morse Diesel Inc. filed a motion for summary judgment on the basis that plaintiff Matthew D’Alessio’s claims were barred by New York State Worker’s Compensation Law. In support of its motion, Morse Diesel pointed to D’Alessio’s deposition testimony in which he claimed to be an … Continued
Last week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was named as a defendant in a new U.S. District Court, Central District of California lawsuit challenging California’s two new climate disclosure and financial reporting laws introduced late in 2023 — Senate bills SB 253 and SB 261. The case is Chamber of Com. Of the U.S. … Continued