Calif. Court Denies Summary Judgment Efforts by Foster Wheeler in Asbestos Suit

LOS ANGELES –– A California federal court has denied Foster Wheeler’s efforts to obtain summary judgment on a number of grounds in an asbestos case, including the government contractor and sophisticated user defenses.

In the July 21 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California also opined that a reasonable jury could enforce liability on the defendant for replacement gaskets, since the plaintiffs presented evidence that Foster Wheeler specified and/or supplied those replacement parts.

The plaintiffs contended in their lawsuit that Donald Willis was exposed to asbestos-containing products while serving in the U.S. Navy for more …