$12 Million Award in Calif. Trial Assessed Against Manufacturer, Supplier

LOS ANGELES -- After five days of deliberations, Los Angeles County Superior Court jurors have found remaining defendants John Crane Inc. and Lone Star Industries liable for a former U.S. Naval serviceman's asbestos-related injuries, determining that both the manufacturer and supplier were liable under defective product and failure to warn theories. Cundiff v. ALfal Laval, et al., No. BC390398 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

The May 6 verdict is believed to be the first that assesses liability on both the supplier and manufacturer after the California 1st District Court of Appeal's Taylor decision, in which the court found that …