$22 Million Asbestos Verdict Upheld; Court Rejects John Crane’s Attempts to Rely on Sophisticated User Defense

LOS ANGELES –– A $22 million asbestos verdict has been affirmed after a California appellate court ruled that the trial court did not err when precluding a jury instruction on the sophisticated user defense.

In a 68-page Oct. 29 opinion, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal wrote that the proposed instructions “erroneously” stated that employees of a sophisticated user could be deemed sophisticated users themselves.

The lawsuit, filed by William and Anne Pfeifer, asserts that while serving in the U.S. Navy, William Pfeifer worked with asbestos-containing packing and gaskets sold by John Crane. After his time in the …