Category: New York

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New York / Summary Judgment
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Pump Manufacturer Successful on Summary Judgment

Supreme Court of New York, Suffolk County, June 6, 2022

Plaintiffs Lisa and Edward Gavin filed a lawsuit to recover damages for the injuries Lisa allegedly sustained as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or sold by defendants during her employment with Courter and Company from 1978 to 1980.

Defendant Sterling Fluid Systems LLC (USA), moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against it, arguing that the plaintiff did not allege asbestos exposure from its pumps, and that there was no evidence that …

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Motion to Dismiss / New York
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Court Grants Equipment Manufacturer’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction and Denies Plaintiffs’ Request for Jurisdictional Discovery

State of New York, Supreme Court, County of Monroe, May 16, 2022

Plaintiffs John and Jayne Gaub commenced an asbestos-related lawsuit on February 22, 2021, against several defendants, including Textron, Inc., sued individually and as alleged successor to Bridgeport Machines, Inc. (defendant) for damages from personal injuries from Mr. Gaub’s alleged asbestos exposure from various products, including brakes changed in his presence on Bridgeport machines. All of Mr. Gaub’s work with and around Bridgeport products occurred in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr. Gaub was diagnosed with …

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Maritime/Admiralty Law / New York / Summary Judgment
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Motions for Summary Judgment in Jones Act Matter Denied on Statute of Limitations and Causation Grounds

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, May 9, 2022

In this asbestos action, decedent Carlo Badamo served on several vessels during his time as a merchant marine from 1944 to 1955. Thereafter, he alleged that he developed asbestos-related cancer and brought a claim under the Jones Act. Three defendants: Farrell Lines, Chiquita, and Chevron, brought motions for summary judgment contending that the decedent’s claim is barred by the three-year statute of limitations. The defendants assert that the decedent underwent X-ray …

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Appeal / Expert Challenges / New York
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Appellate Court Reverses Plaintiff’s Verdict on Causation Grounds

New York Court of Appeals, April 26, 2022

The plaintiff’s decedent, Florence Nemeth, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2012 and passed away in 2016. She and her husband filed suit against numerous defendants, alleging that Ms. Nemeth’s exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout her lifetime caused her mesothelioma. Ms. Nemeth was deposed prior to her death, but died prior to trial. The plaintiff settled with all defendants prior to trial with the exception of Whittaker, Clark & Daniels (Whittaker), the entity that the plaintiff alleged …

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Motion to Dismiss / New York
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Court Finds Plaintiff Properly Alleges Successor Liability to Survive Motion to Dismiss

Supreme Court of New York, New York County, April 24, 2022

The defendant, PB Heat LLC, filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s complaint and a motion to impose sanctions. The plaintiff filed suit against PB Heat claiming exposure to asbestos, arguing that the doctrine of successor liability is applicable to PB Heat. PB Heat moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim, and moved for sanctions for alleged frivolous conduct. PB Heat argued the complaint lacked any factual allegations that could possibly warrant …

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New York / Statute of Limitations
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Claim Accrues Upon Learning of Asbestos-Related Disease, Not Symptoms Manifesting

Supreme Court of New York, New York County, March 14, 2022

In this matter, plaintiff Dominic Baldi worked as an electrician in public schools and was exposed to asbestos throughout his career. The plaintiff filed the Notice of Claim on April 10, 2020, putting the defendant, Amityville Union Free School District, on notice of this matter. Subsequently, the plaintiff filed the instant order to show cause on August 23, 2021, to serve a late Notice of Claim upon Amityville.

Amityville argues that, in a case …

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New York / Summary Judgment
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Denial of Floor Tile Manufacturer’s Motion for Summary Judgment

Supreme Court of New York, New York County, March 29, 2022

From 1964 to the early 1970s, the plaintiff worked as a carpenter with his brother-in-law and the Carpenter’s Union, Local 257.  From 1969 to his retirement in 2007, he worked as a carpenter at commercial and residential locations throughout New York.  The plaintiff was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2020.  The plaintiff filed a lawsuit premised on his exposure to Goodyear floor tile that he encountered during the late 1960s and early 1970s.  …

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Asbestos Litigation Analysis / New York
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New York Manages to Remain a “Judicial Hellhole” in 2021

While trials and in person court conferences are starting to trickle in, some jurisdictions such as New York still managed to hold its position as a judicial hellhole in 2021. According to American Tort Reform Foundation 2021-22 Judicial Hellholes, California regained its position to the top of the judicial hellhole list. Following California, New York was named as the second judicial hellhole. Georgia, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania followed. Cook, Madison, and St. Clair Counties in Illinois; Louisiana; …

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Expert Challenges / New York / Summary Judgment
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Electrical Equipment Manufacturer’s Motions to Preclude Expert Testimony and for Summary Judgment Denied

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, March 28, 2022

In this asbestos action, plaintiff Arnold Pritt alleged that he was exposed to asbestos during his service in the U.S. Navy, and over the course of his career as a civilian electrician. Mr. Pritt was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2019. On October 10, 2019, he filed suit in New York State Supreme Court against a variety of defendants, including the General Electric Company (GE). The case was subsequently removed to federal …

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New York / Summary Judgment
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Court Finds Issue of Fact Present, Denies Floor Tile Manufacturer’s Motion to Reargue

Supreme Court of New York, New York County; January 18, 2022

In this matter, the plaintiff filed an asbestos-related personal injury action against defendant American Biltrite alleging that the decedent was exposed to asbestos from working with American Biltrite floor tiles. American Biltrite moved for summary judgment to dismiss the action, and the motion was denied. American Biltritethen moved to reargue the decision denying its motion.

To begin, CPLR 2221(d)(2) permits a party to move for leave to reargue a decision upon a showing that …

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