Del. Court Awards Summary Judgment on Valve Manufacturer's Bare Metal Defense

WILMINGTON, Del. - A Delaware judge has ruled that a valve manufacturer owed no duty under Oregon law to a shipyard worker allegedly exposed to asbestos-containing parts that were added to the company's products after their original sale. In re Asbestos Litigation: Ralph Curtis Wolfe, No. N10C-08-258 (Del. Super. Ct., New Castle Cty.).

In a Feb. 28 award of summary judgment to The William Powell Co., New Castle County Superior Court Judge John A. Parkins Jr. stated that because there was no evidence that the defendant required or recommended that asbestos be used with its valves, it cannot be held …