Real-Time Court Decisions and Other Developments in Asbestos Litigation.
Plaintiff Richard Long brought this suit against multiple defendants, including John Crane, after being diagnosed with biphasic pleural mesothelioma in January 2023. Long worked at the Dillingham ship repair yard on Swan Island, Ore., from 1972 to 1985. The case eventually went to trial. Long called as experts Arnold Brody, Ph.D., a pathologist and cell biologist … Continued
Oregon’s most populous county, and home to Portland, sued more than a dozen oil, gas, and coal companies for over $50 million in damages related to a 2021 “heat dome” the county alleges was caused by the defendants’ contributions to climate change. Multnomah County, which filed the civil suit in June, is also seeking no … Continued
Court of Appeals of Oregon, October 5, 2022 Plaintiffs, Donald Miller and his wife Linda Miller (hereinafter “plaintiffs”), asserted claims of negligence, strict product liability, and loss of consortium based on Donald’s exposure to an asbestos-containing construction product sold by Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. (hereinafter “Kaiser”) in the 1960s. At the time of trial, Kaiser was … Continued
Court of Appeals of Oregon, October 5, 2022 Plaintiffs Donald Miller and Linda Miller filed a lawsuit to recover damages for injuries Donald allegedly sustained as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products during his lifetime. At the time of trial, Kaiser Gypsum Company was the only remaining defendant. As to Kaiser Gypsum, Plaintiffs alleged that Donald … Continued
Court of Appeals of Oregon, March 24, 2021 In this asbestos action, decedent Ronald Laux alleged exposure to asbestos from replacing motorcycle brake linings from 1961 until 2014. Thereafter, he developed mesothelioma and brought negligence and strict products liability actions against numerous defendants. After Mr. Laux’s passing, Mrs. Laux was named as the personal representative … Continued
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division, March 23, 2021 The plaintiff’s third amended complaint alleged that the decedent Bill Jack Sheldon was exposed to airbone asbestos fibers, both by directly working with asbestos and asbestos-containing materials and by working in the vicinity of other workers handling asbestos products between 1972 and … Continued
OREGON — An Oregon jury delivered a defense verdict for defendant Chanel on September 17, 2018 after a four-week trial in a living pleural mesothelioma claim. Chanel asserted an spontaneous etiology defense and the jury unanimously found that (i) Chanel was not negligent and (ii) was no defect in the Chanel cosmetic talc product allegedly used by … Continued
OREGON — The plaintiff initially filed her lawsuit on behalf of her father’s estate, in Oregon state court, alleging he was exposed to asbestos while working at Norwest Marine & Iron Works Shipyard and Albina Engine & Machine Works Shipyard. Both shipyards serviced military and civilian vessels. Neither the original nor amended complaints contained specific … Continued
The plaintiff appealed the trial court’s granting of the defendant’s motion for summary judgment on successor liability. This suit involves the plaintiff’s exposure to asbestos from his work in Portland shipyards during the 1950s. The defendant moved for summary judgment on the ground that any of its liabilities “that may have existed prior to 1965 … Continued
The plaintiff alleged strict product liability, negligence, and loss of consortium against various defendants after her husband developed and died from mesothelioma. Defendant Warren Pumps was granted summary judgment, and plaintiff appealed. The court reversed and remanded. During his 20-year naval career, the decedent served on two aircraft carriers — the USS Boxer and the … Continued