Calif. Court Reverses Judgment for Manufacturer of Grinding Machine

SAN FRANCISCO -- A California appellate court has reversed an order in favor of a defendant whose product did not contain asbestos, ruling that at the pleading stage, the plaintiffs' allegations are enough to withstand a motion for judgment on the pleadings and the manufacturer could be held liable for a machine that created or contributed substantially to the exposure to asbestos fibers. Shields, et al. v. Hennessy Industries Inc., et al., No. A130213 (Calif. 1st Dist. Ct. App., Div. 1).

In the April 13 opinion, the California First District Court of Appeal held that the instant case was distinguishable …