Judge Denies Efforts to Preclude Plaintiff Expert Testimony in Asbestos Case; Seattle Jury Deadlocked

SEATTLE –– A jury currently hearing a Washington asbestos trial involving asbestos-containing hot tops indicated that it was deadlocked in a note sent to the trial judge last week, according to court documents.

On Dec. 13, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington jury sent the judge a note saying that they found themselves “unable to reach a unanimous decision.”

According to the jury note, the District Court instructed the jury with Ninth Circuit Civil Instruction 3.5, which reminds jury members not to “hesitate to reexamine your own views and change your opinion if you become persuaded …