Real-Time Court Decisions and Other Developments in Asbestos Litigation.
On Monday, April 18, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley, overturning a lower federal district court’s ruling to revoke the City of Berkeley, California’s ban of natural gas infrastructure in newly constructed buildings. Berkeley’s prohibition against natural gas was seen as the first city-level … Continued
California has been pushing hard recently to lose its status as the second-largest contributor of the nation’s greenhouse gases (still comfortably behind Texas.) In 2020, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) enacted the Advanced Clean Trucks (“ACT”) rule, the world’s first zero-emissions commercial truck requirement. Specifically, ACT required large-capacity vehicle (truck) manufacturers to phase out … Continued
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of California This asbestos-related lawsuit alleges that the decedent, Roberto Elorreaga, developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos-containing products while working aboard the USS Rupertus (DD-851) from October 1959 to January 1960 as a machinist mate, and the USS Cowell (DD-547) from October 1960 until February 1963 as a fireman’s apprentice and … Continued
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of California In this asbestos action, plaintiff Gary Haeck sued several defendants for causes of action in strict products liability, negligence, fraud, and loss of consortium, including five entities that are California citizens. Haeck moved for an expedited trial, which the court granted for December 2022. … Continued
Court: United States District Court for the Central District of California In this action, the plaintiffs alleged that the decedent, John Carpenter, contracted and died from mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos, which occurred in part during his service in the Navy. Before the court are two motions: defendant Nibco Inc.’s motion for summary judgment … Continued
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California In this asbestos action, decedent John Carpenter worked as a marine machinist at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard from 1973 until 1984, when he became a mechanical engineering technician. Four of his co-workers testified as to his activities while at the shipyard, as Carpenter passed before … Continued
Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, November 9, 2022 In this asbestos matter, the plaintiffs alleged that the decedent, Gail Chandler, developed mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant, Parts Warehouse, a retail distributer, sold asbestos-containing parts to the decedent and/or the decedent’s employer, and that … Continued
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, October 6, 2022 In this asbestos action, Plaintiff George Sweikart alleged that his mesothelioma resulted from exposure to asbestos-containing products, including brakes and clutches from defendant Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. (“Akebono”). Akebono, a Japanese company, filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, alleging … Continued
United States District Court for the Northern District of California, July 11, 2022 Plaintiff, Frank Shelton, filed an asbestos-related lawsuit alleging his exposure to asbestos from various defendants’ products while he served in the Navy from approximately the mid-1960s to the early 1970s caused him to contract mesothelioma. During his service, plaintiff worked as a machinist mate while stationed … Continued
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jo-Lynne Q. Lee set a hearing on nationally recognized plaintiff’s firm Maune Raichle French Hartley & Mudd. LLC’s motion for protective order in a pending asbestos case in which the defendants’ experts wanted to perform genetic testing. The case is John Lohmann and Suzanne Lohmann v. Aaon, Inc., et al. … Continued