Relying on Koulermos v. A.O. Smith Water Prods., the New York Appellate Division, First Department upheld the trial court’s denial of summary judgment. The court found that the trial court used the correct standard and that Cleaver Brooks failed to put forth evidence illustrating how it was entitled to summary judgment.
Read a full summary of the case here.…
Continue ReadingThe Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York issued three decisions rejecting appeals of Crane Co. arising from verdicts for Plaintiffs in three separate trials out of New York County.
In Peraica v. A.O. Smith, et al., a jury on December 3, 2013 awarded the plaintiffs $9,900,000 for past pain and suffering against defendant Crane Co., with an order to vacate the award and order new trial as to such damages unless the plaintiffs stipulated to a reduced award of $4.25 …
Continue ReadingThe plaintiff, Kelan Unterberg, brought this action against multiple defendants for his alleged development of mesothelioma. His complaint lodged three separate causes of action including negligence under the Jones Act, breach of warranty of sea worthiness and reasonable fitness under U.S. Maritime law, and remedy of maintenance and cure. All of the counts were related to Unterberg’s alleged exposure to asbestos aboard several civilian vessels while working as a chief engineer and merchant seaman from 1973-78.
The plaintiff, a citizen of Germany, first brought this …
Continue ReadingIn this case, the plaintiff Gaspar Hernandez-Vega alleges that he developed mesothelioma as a result of his alleged exposure to asbestos-containing products while working as a pipefitter. At his deposition, Hernandez-Vega testified interchangeably to work with “Edward valves,” “Vogt valves,” and “Edward-Vogt valves” that exposed him to asbestos through his changing of the packing and gaskets applied to those valves. The defendant Flowserve is the successor in interest for Edward Valves, Inc., the Vogt Valve Company, and Edward-Vogt (created following a merger of the two …
Continue ReadingLiberty Mutual Insurance Company issued successive annual insurance policies to the Fairbanks Company from January 1, 1974 to January 1, 1982. Liberty issued both comprehensive general liability and umbrella policies. Multiple lawsuits were filed in several jurisdictions against Fairbanks, alleging injuries due to exposure to asbestos, and this coverage litigation resulted.
On March 21, 2016, the court ruled on Liberty’s motion for summary judgment, concluding that the policies were subject to pro rata allocation such that Liberty was only liable to indemnify Fairbanks for the …
Continue ReadingOn August 4, 2016, the Supreme Court of New York affirmed the jury’s award of $3.5 million against defendant National Grid Generation, LLC. The evidence showed that LILCO, National Grid’s predecessor in interest, issued detailed specifications directing contractors on how to mix and apply asbestos-containing concrete and insulation at a power plant. This supported the jury’s finding of a violation of Labor Law § 200. The fact that LILCO ensured that its directives were followed by supervising the superintendents, rather than by directly supervising the …
Continue ReadingThe plaintiffs moved pursuant to CPLR 602 for an order consolidating four in extremis cases for a joint trial: Herman Anderson, Mercedes Abreu, Patrick Demartino, and Mario Scalera. Defendant Ford opposed consolidation in all four cases. Ingersoll Rand Co. and Aurora Pump Co. also opposed in the Demartino case, Weil-McClain opposed in the Abreu case, Genuine Parts Co. and ArvinMeritor, Inc. opposed in Anderson, and Pneumo Abex Corp. and Maremont Corp. opposed in Anderson and Demartino.
In denying the plaintiffs motion to consolidate, …
Continue ReadingDefendant J-M Manufacturing Company, Inc. moved to vacate the Recommendation of the Special Master finding that J-M waived privilege. In so doing, the defendant argued the Special Master erroneously applied New York law instead of California law in determining that the defendant waived the attorney-client privilege attached to the redacted and unredacted versions of a 1983 memo from the defendant’s in-house counsel to its president. The plaintiff opposed the motion.
In its motion to vacate, J-M argued the memo was first inadvertently produced in a …
Continue ReadingIn the matter of the Estate of Lee Holdsworth, in the Supreme Court of New York, Erie County (Lower Court), judgment was entered against the defendant Crane Co. upon a jury verdict finding that Crane Co. was 35 percent liable for the damages arising from injuries sustained by Lee Holdsworth (the plaintiff’s decedent) as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products used as component parts with the valves that defendant produced. The jury also determined the defendant acted with reckless disregard for the safety of …
Continue ReadingThe plaintiff, Lynda Berry, filed an asbestos lawsuit in Louisiana against Graphic Packaging International for mesothelioma due secondary exposure from her husband’s work at the Manville Forest Products (MFP) mill from 1961-2010. The plaintiff’s petition included claims against Manville for asbestos it produced, and claims against Graphic for negligently maintaining the premises. Graphic filed an emergency motion for enforcement of the bankruptcy confirmation orders of the Johns-Manville Corporation and MFP. Graphic argued it was a successor of MFP, and as such, the plaintiff must first …
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