LATEST INSIGHTS

The law concept background.
Appeal / New York
Posted by:

Appeals Court Affirms NYCAL Judge’s Denials of Motions to Dismiss on Successor Liability Grounds

Court: Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department

Defendant P.B. Heat previously moved to dismiss multiple complaints in New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) cases. NYCAL Coordinating Judge Adam Silvera denied each of these motions. Asbestos Case Tracker covered one of Judge Silvera’s previous decisions where he denied P.B. Heat’s motion in the Catapano matter. P.B. Heat appealed the multiple denials to dismiss.

The court discussed two arguments on appeal. First, P.B. Heat contended that there were no factual allegations setting forth the …

Continue Reading
Law theme. Judge chamber.
Appeal / Bankruptcy
Posted by:

Circuit Court Affirms Automatic Stay as to Georgia-Pacific’s Asbestos Lawsuits

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

In 1965, Georgia-Pacific LLC (Old GP) merged with Bestwall Gypsum Company, a manufacturer of asbestos-containing products. In 2017, Georgia-Pacific LLC underwent a divisional merger under Texas law. As a result, Old GP ceased to exist, and its assets and liabilities were divided between two new entities as wholly owned subsidiaries of Georgia-Pacific Holdings LLC: Bestwall LLC (Bestwall) and Georgia-Pacific LLC (New GP).

In accordance with this merger, Bestwall became solely responsible for all asbestos-related liabilities. Following …

Continue Reading
Wooden judge gavel, close-up view.
Causation / Summary Judgment
Posted by:

Asbestos Supplier’s Motion for Summary Judgment Denied on Causation Grounds

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

The plaintiff’s decedent, Alfred Broderick, was allegedly diagnosed with asbestosis in March 2018, which he claimed was caused by exposure to asbestos. Mr. Broderick and his wife filed suit in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in July 2018, and their case was removed to federal court in August 2018. Mr. Broderick passed away in January 2022, predeceased by his wife, who died in December 2021.

Prior to his passing, Mr. Broderick provided deposition testimony in …

Continue Reading
Courtroom, Gavel And Law Books
Asbestos Litigation Analysis
Posted by:

2022 Asbestos Litigation Trends

KCIC recently issued its latest industry report: Asbestos Litigation: 2022 Year in Review, which collected data through January 31 of this year, and assessed that data alongside statistics from its 2021 Year in Review.   

Several takeaways from the update, each addressed at greater length below, are as follows:  

  1. As of January 31, 2023, the total asbestos filings reflected a decrease of 7 percent compared to total filings in 2021.   
  2. Mesothelioma filings increased 2 percent in 2022; however, filings for other disease types, including lung
… Continue Reading
judge's gavel and books
Personal Jurisdiction
Posted by:

Denial of Talc Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction Reversed on Appeal

Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District

The plaintiffs, John and Joanne Fleemin, filed the instant products liability lawsuit against numerous defendants, including Lornamead, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in New York. The plaintiffs alleged that Joanne developed mesothelioma as a result of her exposure to asbestos-containing cosmetic talcum powder products between 1978 and 2015. They attributed Yardley Lavender talcum powder to Lornamead. The plaintiffs further asserted that the defendants were subject to jurisdiction in Florida based on having “maintained …

Continue Reading
Courtroom, Gavel And Law Books
Alabama / Federal Officer Removal
Posted by:

Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand Denied; Court Finds Defendants’ Removal Timely

Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Southern Division

This action was filed in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, on June 23, 2022. The complaint named numerous defendants, including Paramount Global (“Westinghouse”) and General Electric Company. Plaintiff Gloria Craig suffers from mesothelioma allegedly as a result of her take-home exposure to asbestos via her ex-husband. Specifically, plaintiff alleged Mr. Craig brought home asbestos on his clothes while he was working at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. (“ADDSCO”) in …

Continue Reading
Wooden judge gavel, close-up view.
Federal Court Removal / Missouri
Posted by:

Helicopter Engine Manufacturer’s Removal Based on Federal-Officer Jurisdiction Upheld

Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division

Decedent Gustave Sahm died from lung cancer allegedly caused by asbestos exposure from 1956 to 2020 during his service in the United States Navy, and as a police officer for St. Louis County. His heirs filed suit in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis in January 2023, alleging the Raytheon products he encountered through his work with police helicopters contributed to his disease. Defendant Raytheon removed the case pursuant to 28 …

Continue Reading
Closeup of a sculpture with balance
Causation / New York / Punitive Damages / Summary Judgment
Posted by:

Talc Supplier’s Motion for Summary Judgment Denied as to Causation, Granted as to Punitive Damages

Court: Supreme Court of New York, Erie County

In this asbestos matter, plaintiffs claimed that decedent, Jeffrey Campise, was exposed to asbestos through consumer talcum powder products. Plaintiffs filed suit against a number of manufacturers of cosmetic-talc products, along with Whitaker, Clark & Daniels (WCD), as an alleged supplier of talc to the aforementioned manufacturers. WCD filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims in their entirety. 

As a preliminary matter, WCD argued it was speculative as to whether its talc was in …

Continue Reading
Business and lawyers discussing contract papers with brass scale on desk
Appeal / Louisiana
Posted by:

Jury Award of $36 Million Affirmed against Contractor

Court: Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit

In this asbestos action, plaintiff William Walker alleged asbestos exposure from working as a pipefitter and welder for Level 3 Holdings Inc. f/k/a Peter Kiewit & Sons, Co. (“Level 3”) from 1967 until 1970. During this time, he worked at the Union Carbide Plant, Waterford I, and Waterford II. This case proceeded to trial in May 2022 where the jury found for the plaintiff and awarded damages in the amount of over $36 million dollars. In July …

Continue Reading
Judge chamber with gavel
Louisiana / Summary Judgment
Posted by:

Court Denies, in Part, Plaintiffs’ Appeal of Summary Judgment for Various Defendants

Jurisdiction: Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit

In April 2018, Emily Everett complained to her primary care physician of severe abdominal swelling.  After extensive workup, Everett received a diagnosis of mesothelioma. She attributed the diagnosis to laundering her husband’s work clothes over a 20-year period when he worked as a journeyman welder and boilermaker. She filed a petition for damages in June 2018 prior to her passing in April 2019. In March 2022, several defendants including Foster Wheeler filed separate motions for summary judgment. Defendant Peter Kiewit Sons later …

Continue Reading