Calif. Court Upholds Summary Judgment Award for Alleged Asbestos Supplier, Cites Unauthenticated Evidence

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –– A California appellate court has affirmed an award of summary judgment for a company that allegedly supplied asbestos for use in joint compound products, agreeing with the trial court that a portion of the plaintiff’s evidence could not be authenticated.

In the April 3 opinion, the California Third District Court of Appeal said that even if it found that the trial court had erred on other grounds, the unauthenticated evidence would still allow the summary judgment award to stand.

James A. Lovelace filed the underlying claims, contending that he was exposed to asbestos-containing products while working as …