N.C. Court Denies Summary Judgment Efforts from Crane Co., Ingersoll-Rand in Asbestos Case

GREENSBORO, N.C. –– A North Carolina federal court has denied efforts by three defendants to throw out asbestos claims, finding that the plaintiffs had produced evidence of frequent, regular and proximate exposure to asbestos in valves and compressors.

In the Aug. 7 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina in part opined that an independent contractor could be held liable for the asbestos-related injuries since there was evidence that the defendant maintained control over the asbestos-containing products present at the job site.

The plaintiffs asserted the claims on behalf of Ralph Logan, whose work …