Maryland Court Upholds Standard for When Asbestos-Related Disease 'Occurs'

BALTIMORE - Maryland's highest court has upheld an award for asbestos-related damages where the manifestation of a disease resulting from plaintiffs' alleged asbestos exposure occurred after a state-imposed cap on such damages came into effect. John Crane, Inc., v. James Scribner, et al., No. 92, 99 (Md. Ct. App.).

The Maryland Court of Appeals issued its landmark decision June 11, finding that in actions for personal injury caused by asbestos exposure, the court may look - for the purposes of applying the statutory cap - to the plaintiffs' last exposure to the defendant's asbestos-containing product.

'If the only exposure was …