Author: Jillian E. Madison

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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New York / Summary Judgment
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Joint Compound Manufacturer’s Motion for Summary Judgment Denied Despite Expert Support

Supreme Court of New York, New York County; January 14, 2022

In this asbestos-related action, defendant Dykes Lumber Company, Inc., filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to establish that he was exposed to asbestos from joint compound sold by Dykes Lumber or, alternatively, that there was insufficient evidence to establish specific causation. Dykes Lumber argued that the plaintiff’s deposition testimony was insufficient to identify any of the products Dykes Lumber sold, and further, that any exposure the plaintiff had …

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Summary Judgment / Washington
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Plaintiff Failed to Provide Evidence That Insulation Manufacturer Caused Mesothelioma, Summary Judgment Affirmed

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division One; January 24, 2022

The decedent, Duane Hickson, filed an asbestos-related lawsuit alleging he was exposed to asbestos when he worked as a pipefitter throughout his life, including at the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) Cherry Point Refinery. In April 2019, the decedent was diagnosed with mesothelioma and subsequently passed away on February 6, 2020.

ARCO moved for summary judgment, alleging that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate that the decedent had been exposed to asbestos at Cherry Point, that there …

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Pennsylvania / Personal Jurisdiction
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Default Judgment Vacated by Plaintiff’s Failure to Serve Amended Complaint

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, January 7, 2022

The plaintiff Rhonda J. Gorton filed this asbestos-related lawsuit on behalf of her husband, the decedent Thomas Gorton, alleging the decedent contracted mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos-containing products. The defendant Warren Pumps did not respond to the complaint or otherwise have counsel enter an appearance on its behalf. On or about March 6, 2018, the decedent passed away. On July 9, 2018, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint alleging …

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Appeal / Washington
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Premises Defendant Appeal Unsuccessful, Verdict Upheld

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division One, December 14, 2021

From the mid-1950s until 1988, ExxonMobil operated a refinery in Ferndale, Washington. In 1979, Northwestern Industrial Maintenance (NWIM) contracted with Mobil to perform maintenance jobs at the Mobil refinery in Ferndale. NWIM employed the decedent, Warren Wright, as a working foreman at the Ferndale facility. The decedent was diagnosed with mesothelioma, and died in September 2015. In January 2018, the plaintiff filed a wrongful death suit individually and on behalf of the decedent’s estate, alleging …

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Expert Challenges / North Carolina
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Plaintiffs’ Experts Fail to Calculate Dose of Exposure; Specific Causation Opinions Precluded

U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Asheville Division, December 6, 2021

Plaintiffs David L. Settlemyer and Jan Settlemyer filed the complaint for their asbestos-related action on December 12, 2019, alleging that Mr. Settlemyer contracted mesothelioma from his work as an automobile and truck mechanic for various employers from 1979 through the present.

The defendants filed motions topreclude the plaintiffs’ expert, Dr. Edwin Holstein, from testifying as to the specific causation of Mr. Settlemyer’s mesothelioma and also moved to exclude the testimony of …

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Asbestos Litigation Analysis
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Similar Summary Judgment Standards Yield Different Results Based on Jurisdiction

Over the past six months, the Asbestos Case Tracker has reported on numerous summary judgment decisions throughout the country. The most active jurisdictions included New York, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Illinois, Delaware, Mississippi and Washington. On review of the decisions we have discussed, Texas, Illinois, Mississippi, Washington and Pennsylvania appear to be the most defendant-friendly jurisdictions, with the courts granting all the summary judgment motions coming before them. New York continues to be the least defendant-friendly jurisdiction when it comes to summary judgment. Of the eight …

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California / Personal Jurisdiction
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Court Finds Plaintiff’s Affidavit Establishes Specific Jurisdiction

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, September 9, 2021

Plaintiff Dennis A. Rockwell filed an asbestos action alleging he was exposed to asbestos from his work on two U.S. Navy ships and during his employment at Camp Pendleton, located in California.He alleged that such asbestos exposure ultimately resulted in his February 2021 diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Defendant Akron Brass Company moved to dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction citing the plaintiff’s failure to provide facts connecting Akron Bass to California. …

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Expert Challenges / North Carolina
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Court Compels Discovery from Non-Testifying Expert Finding Exceptional Circumstances Under Rule 26

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, September 27, 2021

Plaintiff Laura M. Walls filed a products liability action on behalf of the estate of her husband, Robie W. Walls (decedent). The plaintiff alleged that defendant Pneumo Abex LLC, among others, manufactured, sold, and/or distributed asbestos-containing products or raw asbestos materials for use in North Carolina and other states at times relevant to this action, and the decedent’s exposure to such products caused him to develop mesothelioma, resulting in his death on …

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Mesothelioma
Summary Judgment / Texas
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Mask Manufacturer Defendant Successful on Summary Judgment

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 of the decedent, claimed that while performing his job, LaFrentz was exposed to asbestos which caused his mesothelioma. The plaintiffs alleged the 3M dust mask (the 8710 Respirator) the decedent …

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