Wash. Court Reverses Summary Judgment for GE, Says Defendant’s Steam Turbines Required Use of Asbestos-Containing Component Parts

SEATTLE –– A Washington appellate court has reversed an award of summary judgment to General Electric, concluding that the defendant could be held liable for allegedly harmful insulation, packing, and gaskets used with the defendant’s steam turbines since those asbestos-containing materials were necessary for the turbines to function as designed.

In the April 4 opinion, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One, additionally pointed out that the evidence established that General Electric knew only asbestos-containing materials were available during the time period in question and would, therefore, be used with its products.

The plaintiffs asserted the claims on behalf …