Real-Time Court Decisions and Other Developments in Asbestos Litigation.
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District, Houston Carolyn and Frank Burford were married from November 1962 until Carolyn’s death in 2015. While married, Frank Buford worked for Alcoa at its aluminum smelter in Rockdale, Texas. As a potlining helper, Mr. Burford regularly worked with and around asbestos-containing materials. Mrs. Burford (Carolyn, or decedent) washed … 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
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, March 17, 2022 In this asbestos action, plaintiff Naomi Wisener alleged that several defendants manufactured or supplied asbestos-containing products which exposed her to asbestos. Wisener commenced this action in state court (14th Judicial Court of Dallas County, Texas). Defendant Revlon removed the matter to … Continued
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, September 10, 2021 Decedent James LaFrentz was employed by General Dynamics Corporation from 1978 to 1984 at the Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas, as a drill press operator and a machinist. The complaint, filed by the plaintiffs in 2018 on behalf … Continued
Court of Appeals of Texas, First District, Houston, July 13, 2021 The plaintiff, Thelma Mullins, alleged that the decedent, Donald Mullins, was exposed to asbestos while working at ARCO’s petrochemical plant. The plaintiff claimed that the asbestos exposure caused the decedent to develop mesothelioma, which led to his death. The trial court granted a no-evidence … Continued
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division The plaintiffs brought suit against Novelis Corporation, arguing that decedent Larry Petrie’s mesothelioma and death were caused by exposure to the defendant’s asbestos-containing product, Snow Drift, while decorating the family Christmas tree. The decedent and his family would throw the product on the tree, … Continued
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, March 31, 2021 In this asbestos action, Mr. James LaFrentz (the decedent) wore a 3M dust mask while working for General Dynamics from 1978 until 1984. The issue of whether the decedent suffered from mesothelioma or lung cancer was in contention before his passing. … Continued
Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District, Houston, March 2, 2021 In this instant take-home exposure matter, the trial court granted defendant Union Carbide’s motion for summary judgment and the plaintiff now appeals the trial court’s order. The appellate court affirms the lower court’s decision. In response to Union Carbide’s motion, appellants offered several pieces … Continued
TEXAS – In Union Carbide Corporation and GST Settlement Facility v. Oscar Torres and Dora Torres, the Court of Appeals of Texas, Corpus-Christi-Edinburg ruled on an appeal filed by appellants GST Settlement Facility, successor-in-bankruptcy to Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC and Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) following a jury trial in favor of appellees. The appellees lawsuit … Continued
For the second time in three weeks, black smoke was seen emitting from a Houston-area chemical plant. This time, the fire was at the KMCO plant in Crosby, Texas. The explosion at the KMCO chemical plant happened when a transfer line ignited a tank full of isobutylene. Isobutylene is a highly flammable colorless gas. The … Continued