Calif. Court Rejects ‘Newly Discovered Evidence’ in John Crane’s Motion to Reconsider Summary Judgment Order

LOS ANGELES –– A California federal court has rejected John Crane’s efforts to have the court reconsider a motion for summary judgment previously denied by the court, noting that the “newly discovered” evidence cited by the asbestos defendant was published more than 50 years ago.

In the Aug. 18 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California additionally opined that even if the evidence could not have been found with due diligence, the defendant still failed to prove that a co-defendant’s manufacture of a similar product would permit an award of summary judgment.

The plaintiffs contended in …