Real-Time Court Decisions and Other Developments in Asbestos Litigation.
It appears that 2016 may be the year that genomics and other aspects of molecular science make a big splash in “mass tort” litigation. While genomic analysis has long been used in forensics, it has also made its way into toxic tort cases, such as benzene exposure cases, and asbestos and mesothelioma cases. Indeed, the …
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit in state court alleging that from 1968 to 1980, he was a salesman for Kaiser Refractories whose clientele was primarily large industrial facilities to which a quarter of what he sold was asbestos-containing insulation, including refractory material, or material used to insulate the interior metal surfaces of industrial boilers and …
In this federal court case, the plaintiff, James McCourt, alleged exposure to asbestos from serving in the Navy (1962-66), working as a pipefitter (1961-62 and 1966-68), home renovations (1952-60), automotive repair work (1959-98), and from the clothing of his father from products manufactured by various defendants. Six defendnats, Guard-Line, Inc., CertainTeed Corporation, Union Carbide Corporation, …
On April 4, 2016, Exxon Mobil Corporation brought suit against Lockheed Martin Corporation, seeking a declaration that the 1963 asset purchase agreement between Martin-Marietta, Lockheed’s predecessor, and Mobil Finishes does not give rise to an obligation to pay or reimburse costs that Lockheed Martin allegedly incurred or may incur with regards to alleging asbestos bodily …
In an effort to halt asbestos fraud, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed into law a bill to prevent plaintiffs’ lawyers from, on behalf of a single client, seeking money from multiple asbestos trusts while additionally bringing a lawsuit. As stated by Lisa Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, this law “will …
This action was originally commenced by the plaintiff in the Southern District of New York and alleged that the decedent, Pedro Rosado-Rivera, was exposed to asbestos-containing auto-body filler while working in auto shops in New York (1959-1968), Puerto Rico (1968-1992) and then thereafter in Florida. The defendant BASF Catalysts LLC’s, joined by other defendants Superior …
The plaintiff alleged that her husband was exposed to asbestos from brakes, and as a result died from mesothelioma. She sued Honeywell International, as successor-in-interest to Bendix, alleging negligence, breach of implied warranty, fraud, failure to warn, and wrongful death, and asked for actual and punitive damages. Bendix moved for summary judgment on the breach …
After the decedent was diagnosed with mesothelioma, he and his wife filed suit against 31 companies alleging asbestos exposure. The case was removed to federal court and transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania MDL. Four defendants — Crane Company, CBS Corporation (Westinghouse), Goulds Pumps, and Air & Liquid Systems Corporation (Buffalo) — were granted summary judgment …
In this case, the plaintiff, Frank Williams, brought an action in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans for exposure to asbestos while working as a mechanical engineer for Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin removed the case to on the basis of a potential federal defense. The plaintiff filed a motion to remand, but …
In this take-home exposure case, the plaintiff was diagnosed with malignant epithelial mesothelioma (MEM) on or about August 5, 2010 and commenced her case against various defendants on November 5, 2012. After joinder of issue and discovery, several defendants moved for, and were granted, summary judgment, arguing that the plaintiff’s action was time-barred pursuant to …