Fla. Court ‘Reluctantly’ Dismisses Loss of Consortium Claims in Asbestos Case

TAMPA, Fla. –– A Florida court has dismissed a loss of consortium claim “reluctantly,” saying that state common law requires an individual to have been married to his or her spouse during the alleged time of exposure, not when the injury manifests.

In the July 10 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida said that its “hands were tied,” and that it had to follow binding Florida law.

The plaintiffs contend that Mark Flomenhoft was exposed to asbestos-containing products, which caused him to develop mesothelioma. The plaintiffs named Georgia-Pacific as a defendant in the …