California Archives - Asbestos Case Tracker

October 20, 2023 California / Summary Judgment

Talc Defendant Denied Summary Judgment and Summary Adjudication

Court: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

In this action, defendant Vanderbilt Materials LLC moved for summary judgment of the plaintiffs’ claim that plaintiff Roberto Gonzalez was exposed to asbestos in the defendant’s talc. Ultimately, the court denied the motion.

Under California law, “[a] defendant seeking summary judgment must conclusively negate a necessary element of the plaintiff’s case, or demonstrate that under no hypothesis is there a material issue of fact that requires the process of trial.” In response to a special interrogatory …

September 29, 2023 California / Federal Officer Removal

Posted by: Elizabeth M. Lautenbach

Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand Case Removed under Federal Officer Removal Statute Denied

In this asbestos action, plaintiff Michael Marcus alleged that he developed mesothelioma from working with or around asbestos-containing products while serving in the United States Navy. The plaintiff brought claims of design defect and failure to warn against numerous defendants. Defendant Greene Tweed removed this case to federal court under the federal officer removal statute. The plaintiffs moved to remand the case to state court.

Under the federal officer removal statute, doubt is construed in favor of removal. A state court case may be removed …

Close up of Male lawyer or judge hand's striking the gavel on sounding block, working with Law books, report the case on table in modern office, Law and justice concept

September 25, 2023 California / Discovery / Summary Judgment

Posted by: Quincy Conrad

Court Issues Final Orders Regarding Various Motions of Automotive Defendants

Jurisdiction: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Defendants Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, Morse Tec LLC, and American Honda Motor Co. Inc. filed various motions for summary judgment, or in the alternative summary adjudication, against the plaintiff Samson Bareh’s claims that he was exposed to asbestos from their products. In addition, the defendant, Volkswagen Group of America Inc., filed a motion to compel discovery.

Mercedes-Benz filed a motion for summary adjudication of the strict liability, negligence, and fraud causes of action, as well as the …

September 22, 2023 Adjudication / California / Summary Judgment

Posted by: Kerry L. Jones

Summary Judgment and Adjudication Motions Filed by Three Automotive Product Defendants; Some Granted and Some Denied

Jurisdiction: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

In this asbestos action, three defendants filed motions for summary judgment, and in some cases, in the alternative, motions for summary adjudication, against plaintiff Ronald Carpenter’s claims that he was exposed to asbestos from their products.

First, defendant ZF Active Safety US Inc. argued that plaintiffs had no evidence that Carpenter was exposed to any asbestos-containing parts from ZF Active Safety. Specifically, ZF Active Safety served interrogatories asking plaintiffs to identify people with knowledge that Carpenter was …

August 25, 2023 California / Personal Jurisdiction

Posted by: Elizabeth M. Lautenbach

Plaintiffs’ Fraud and Loss of Consortium Claims in Shipyard Action Dismissed; Various Other Claims Remain

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

In this asbestos action, decedent Dennis Freeman worked as an insulation contractor at shipyards in several states, including California, from approximately 1980 into the mid-1990s. Several defendants moved to dismiss certain claims in the plaintiffs’ complaint, as well as moved to dismiss the plaintiffs’ complaint in its entirety.

Defendant BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair Inc. (BAE) challenged the court’s subject-matter jurisdiction of this action. However, drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs’ favor, the court disagreed. …

July 21, 2023 California / Summary Judgment

Posted by: Susan R. Allen-Robbins

Appeals Court Upholds Summary Judgment in Favor of Cooling Tower Manufacturers

Court: Court of Appeals of California, First Appellate District, Division One

Decedent Daniel Ochoa worked as a HVAC technician and pipefitter beginning in the 1970s. His work involved extensive maintenance on cooling towers throughout southern California. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma and commenced this action prior to his passing. His widow Joe Ann Ochoa and Arianna Alyssa Huerta were substituted as plaintiffs. Plaintiffs appealed from a summary judgment entered in favor of defendants Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC) and SPX Cooling Technologies Inc. (SPX).

At his …

July 21, 2023 California / Lack of Personal Jurisdiction / Motion to Quash

Posted by: Jessica Saad

Product Manufacturer and Supplier’s Motion to Dismiss on Personal Jurisdiction Grounds Denied

Court: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

In this asbestos action, plaintiffs James Manns, David Papworth, Carie Edwards, Shauna Papworth, Jami Hoffman, and Robee Green filed this action alleging Debra Manns developed mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos from Master Industries Worldwide LLC’s products.

In November 2022, plaintiffs dismissed Master Industries Worldwide, LLC and amended their complaint to substitute Master Industries Worldwide LLC as successor-in-interest to Master Industries Inc. On January 11, 2023, defendants Master Industries Worldwide LLC filed a motion to quash service …

July 13, 2023 California / Significant Verdicts

Posted by: Quincy Conrad

$107 Million Verdict Awarded in Mesothelioma Case Against Raw Asbestos Supplier

Jurisdiction: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

A California jury on July 7 and July 11 handed down major verdicts with awards totaling more than $100 million in a case involving the death of maintenance employee from mesothelioma caused by his alleged exposure to asbestos.

Comprised of $32 million in compensatory damages, and $75 million in punitive damages, the awards came at the conclusion of a two-phase trial before Judge Cary Nishimoto in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The jury apportioned liability as …

April 25, 2023 California / Motion to Quash

Posted by: Jillian E. Madison

Court Grants Plaintiffs Opportunity to Identify Brake Brand before Ruling on Motion to Quash

Court: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Plaintiffs Samson Bareh and Gen Bareh filed this matter, alleging Samson developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. Defendant Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc. filed the within motion to quash service of summons for lack of personal jurisdiction.

The plaintiff had made no specific allegations against Aftermarket, and the complaint alleged nothing about Aftermarket, except to name it as a defendant.

A defendant may move to quash service of summons on the ground of lack of jurisdiction of …

April 5, 2023 California / Summary Judgment

Posted by: Jillian E. Madison

Maritime Defendants’ Motions for Summary Judgment under Government Contractor Defense Denied

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of California

This asbestos-related lawsuit alleges that the decedent, Roberto Elorreaga, developed mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos-containing products while working aboard the USS Rupertus (DD-851) from October 1959 to January 1960 as a machinist mate, and the USS Cowell (DD-547) from October 1960 until February 1963 as a fireman’s apprentice and then as an electrician’s mate.

Several defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that the Government Contractor Defense precluded the plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs opposed the motions arguing …