Pa. Court Reverses Dismissal of Asbestos Claims, Rules Statute of Limitations Didn’t Run Until Formal Diagnosis

HARRISBURG, Pa. –– A Pennsylvania appellate court has reversed an award of summary judgment to Crane Co., finding that the plaintiff’s inquiry as to whether his ongoing ailments were related to asbestos exposure were not enough to trigger the statute of limitations since he was never given a formal diagnosis.

In the July 29 opinion, the Pennsylvania Superior Court held that since the plaintiffs were repeatedly told that Robert Bone’s breathing difficulties were attributable to COPD, the statute of limitations did not begin to run until he was given an official diagnosis of asbestosis.

The plaintiffs contend that Bone …