Calif. Appellate Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Metalclad Insulation in Asbestos Case

SAN FRANCISCO –– A California appellate court has affirmed an award of summary judgment entered in favor of Metalclad Insulation Corp., finding that the defendant had established that the claims were barred under the government contractor defense.

In the June 6 opinion, the California First Appellate District Court of Appeal, Division Two, noted that it affirming the decision, it was adopting the reasoning outlined by Division One of the same court in a separate opinion involving nearly identical facts.

Plaintiff Jay Wanlass asserted the underlying claims, contending that he came into contact with friable asbestos while working as …