Premises Defendant Not Liable for Texas Worker's Pleural Disease

GALVESTON, Texas - A premises defendant is not responsible for contributing to the alleged pleural disease related to a plaintiff's alleged asbestos exposure at a Texas chemical plant, a state court jury in Texas has found. Booker, et al. v. Armstrong World Industries, et al., No. 00cv1173 (Texas Dist. Ct., Galveston, Cty.).

In a verdict rendered June 11, a Galveston County District Court jury found Pharmacia Corp, formerly Monsanto Co., not liable for causing the asbestos-related pleural disease allegedly suffered by Sam Rivenback.

Rivenback, who over the course of 12 years worked as a contractor for various companies at the …