Ky. Dismisses Claims Against Foreign Parent Company in Toxic Exposure Suit, Cites Lack of Personal Jurisdiction

LEXINGTON, Ky. –– A Kentucky federal court has dismissed toxic exposure claims asserted against a Dutch parent company, saying that the actions of a subsidiary within a forum cannot be attributed to a parent company in order to establish jurisdiction.

In the March 31 order, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky wrote that the parent-subsidiary relationship was not enough to trigger personal jurisdiction.

The plaintiffs alleged that the operators of a glass manufacturing plant illegally disposed of hazardous substances –– including asbestos, mercury, arsenic, lead and PCB compounds –– resulting in injuries to its employees …