N.J. Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Goulds Pumps on Causation Grounds; Discusses Replacement Part Liability

TRENTON, N.J. –– A New Jersey appellate court has upheld summary judgment awards entered in favor of Goulds Pumps Inc., concluding that plaintiffs in four asbestos cases failed to establish that they were exposed to asbestos in a product manufactured by the defendant.

In the April 23 opinion, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court held that the plaintiffs could not rely solely on evidence of proximity to Goulds Pumps’ product in support of causation.

However, in a lengthy discussion on replacement parts liability, the appellate court opined that, in the instant cases, it would be “reasonable, …