Default Judgment Against Honeywell Vacated by Appellate Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Because a trial court did not properly determine whether a potential witness in an asbestos case was an "employee" of the defendant, an appellate court has reversed a judgment entered against the defendant, according to a recent opinion. Hoogerwerf v. Honeywell International Inc., No. 4-11-0329; Legate v. Honeywell International Inc., No. 4-11-0505 (Ill. 4th Dist. Ct. App.).

In the Feb. 2 opinion, the Illinois 4th District Court of Appeals vacated a default judgment entered against Honeywell on grounds that the defendant had failed to comply with an order to produce a witness at trial.

The appeal …