Foreign, U.S. Companies Can't Be Held Up to Similar Knowledge Standard for Asbestos, Court Says

NEWARK, Del. - A foreign company that mined asbestos for products used around the world might not have been aware of the dangers of asbestos as early as those operating in the United States and, therefore, should not be held up to the same standard of knowledge when determining whether they have a duty to warn of the potential hazards, a state court in Delaware has ruled. In Re: Asbestos Litigation Ralph F. Golgain, Jr. v. Oy Partek AB, No. 359,2001 (Del. Sup.).

In a decision released May 22, the Delaware Supreme Court upheld an award of summary judgment to …