Illinois Court Dismisses Asbestos Claims Against 5 Defendants for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. –– An Illinois federal court has dismissed asbestos claims pending against several defendants, agreeing with companies that the plaintiff had failed to make out a prima facie case of personal jurisdiction.

In orders entered Feb. 19, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois granted motions to dismiss brought by BASF, Exxon, NIBCO, Valero, and Clow.

Billie Denton asserted the claims on behalf of Robert F. Denton, contending that he was injured by “large amounts of asbestos fibers” during his employment at a BASF facility in Corpus Christi, Texas.

BASF, as well as …