Calif. Court of Appeal Affirms Reversal of $16.9 Million Verdict, Cites Taylor

LOS ANGELES -- A California appellate court has upheld the reversal of a $16.9 million verdict, saying that based on the state's case law, the defendant could not be held responsible for replacement packing products later incorporated into its product. Woodard, et al. v. Crane Co., et al., No. B219366 (Calif. 2nd App. Dist. Ct. App., Div. 4).

In support of its Aug. 25 opinion, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal cited Taylor v. Elliot Turbomachinery Co. (2009, 171 Cal.App.4th 564, 570).

The lawsuit was filed by Dennis Woodward, who contended that his service aboard two U.S. Navy vessels …