Pa. Appellate Court: Plaintiff Not Required to Prove Specific Asbestosis Diagnosis

PHILADELPHIA –– A Pennsylvania appellate court has reversed a summary judgment award to several defendants, ruling that an asbestos plaintiff was not required to proffer evidence of an asbestosis diagnosis in order to survive summary judgment challenges.

Instead, the Pennsylvania Superior Court found in its Oct. 22 opinion that the plaintiff’s showing of pleural plaques and thickening, asbestos exposure and functional limitations in his daily life were sufficient to proceed with his claims.

Karl Glaab filed his lawsuit in 2005, contending that he was suffering from pulmonary asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease as a result of his exposure to …