Kentucky Court Denies Motion to Remand, Says GE Presented Enough Evidence for ‘Plausible’ Government Contractor Defense

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –– A Kentucky federal court has refused to remand an asbestos action, opining that the removing defendants had provided enough evidence to demonstrate that a causal nexus existed between General Electric’s use of asbestos and the U.S. Navy’s contract with General Electric.

In the April 12 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky ruled that the defendants had established that the United States approved “precise specifications” for the asbestos-containing General Electric turbines and Crane Co. valves.

The plaintiffs contend that William Stallings was exposed to asbestos in part while he was working as a …