N.J. Appeals Court: Plaintiff’s Lies About Work History Warranted Dismissal of Asbestos Lawsuit

TRENTON, N.J. — An asbestos plaintiff who deliberately withheld information about his employment history while pursuing mesothelioma claims against several automotive parts manufacturers can no longer proceed with his case, a New Jersey appeals court has ruled.

Affirming a trial court decision dismissing the case with prejudice, the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division ruled Dec. 11 that plaintiff Michael Gaskill committed fraud on the court when he lied to defense counsel about work he performed on construction sites during the years leading up to his asbestos-related injury.

Gaskill sued numerous defendants in 2009, alleging that he developed mesothelioma as …