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Motion for Partial Summary Judgment of Shipyard Subcontractor Granted

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Defendant Hopeman Brothers Inc. moved for partial summary judgment with respect to plaintiffs’ claims of intentional tort, alter ego, and manufacturer strict liability.

In order to satisfy their intentional tort claim, plaintiffs must demonstrate that Hopeman “either consciously desired that plaintiff contract mesothelioma or knew that the result was substantially certain to follow from its conduct.” A substantial certainty is more than “knowingly permitting a hazardous work condition to exist.” The court concluded that …

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Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment to Prevent Government Contractor Defense Granted

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

In the case of Matherne v. Huntington Ingalls Inc., plaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment regarding the Avondale Interests’ government contractor defense.

Plaintiff decedent Roseanna Matherne was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which she alleged resulted from secondhand exposure to asbestos via her husband’s work clothes that she laundered. Mrs. Matherne’s husband worked at Avondale Shipyard from 1965 to 1983. During his employment, Mr. Matherne worked on U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Lykes, States, LASH, …

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Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand Granted in Leopold v. Air

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

In Leopold v. Air, plaintiff Debra Leopold filed an asbestos action in the Circuit Court for the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois. Defendant Goulds Pumps, LLC removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1) with only one defendant, Carrier Corporation joining in the motion. In response, the plaintiff filed a motion to remand. No objections were filed to the motion.…

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Glove Manufacturer Denied Summary Judgment in NYCAL

Court: Supreme Court of New York, New York County

In this asbestos action, decedent Giacinto Pira alleged he was exposed to asbestos from gloves manufactured by defendant Steel Grip.

Steel Grip moved for summary judgment, arguing that plaintiff did not establish exposure to asbestos or causation from Steel Grip gloves. In support, Steel Grip proffered an expert report opining that the levels of asbestos released from their gloves would not be sufficient to cause mesothelioma. Plaintiff opposed Steel Grip’s motion, citing plaintiff’s testimony identifying Steel Grip …

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Valve Manufacturer Succeeds on Motion for Summary Judgement

Jurisdiction: Supreme Court of New York, New York County

Plaintiff filed this lawsuit alleging decedent suffered asbestos exposure from numerous product manufacturers during the course of his employment as a mechanic for Con Ed from 1974 to 2012. Prior to his passing, decedent was deposed. Defendant Crosby Valves filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that decedent was not exposed to asbestos from any Crosby product. Specifically, the defendant referenced decedent’s testimony regarding the use of flange gaskets in connection with Crosby valves, …

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Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Shipbuilding Defendant’s Corporate Representative Deposition Denied

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

In this asbestos action, Vanessa Matherne Richardson filed suit alleging that her mother passed away from mesothelioma, which was contracted through exposure to asbestos brought home by her father, plaintiff Ted Matherne Sr., while employed at the Avondale Shipyards from 1965 to 1983. In March 2022, the court issued a scheduling order setting a January 2023 discovery deadline and a February 2023 trial date.

In December 2022, two weeks before the discovery deadline, the plaintiff filed …

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Printing Press Manufacturers’ Motions for Summary Judgment Denied

Court: Supreme Court of New York, New York County (NYCAL)

In this asbestos action, defendants L3Harris Technologies Inc. and Heidelberg USA Inc. moved separately for summary judgment, arguing that plaintiff Raymond Desiena did not establish exposure to asbestos from his work on Harris or Heidelberg-branded printing presses during his work as a printing press operator from the 1960s-1980s.

Regarding Harris printing presses, Harris noted that Desiena implicated Harris’s printing presses as utilizing asbestos-containing parts — specifically, friction brakes manufactured by Airflex. In response to this …

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Valve Manufacturer’s Motion for Summary Judgment Granted

Court: Supreme Court of New York, New York County (NYCAL)

In this asbestos action, defendant Crosby Valve LLC moved to dismiss the action on the grounds that plaintiff John B. Daly Jr. was not exposed to asbestos from any Crosby product.

Specifically, Crosby’s motion was based on Daly’s testimony that he was exposed to asbestos from “flange gaskets” used along with Crosby valves, and not actually manufactured by Crosby.

Ultimately, the court determined that Daly’s testimony did not indicate any products manufactured by Crosby, and …

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Governor Hochul Vetos Bill Requiring Foreign Corporations to Consent to General Jurisdiction in New York Courts

On December 22, 2023, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed Senate Bill S7476, which provided that a foreign corporation’s application for authority to do business in New York constitutes consent to jurisdiction of New York courts. According to the New York Senate, the purpose of the bill was to allow New York residents to sue foreign corporations authorized to do business in New York in state courts, rather than elsewhere at potentially great expense and inconvenience.

Senate Bill S7476 was introduced on May 30, 2023 …

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Appellate Division Reverses Denial of Door Manufacturer’s Motion to Dismiss

Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department

In July 2023, the trial court denied a door manufacturer’s motion to dismiss. Upon appeal, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department found that defendant T.M. Cobb Company’s motion to dismiss should have been granted for lack of personal jurisdiction.

The court held that “there is no evidence that the fire doors that allegedly caused the decedent plaintiff’s injury by exposing him to asbestos were manufactured in New York.” The court also stated that T.M. …

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