R.I. State Judge Consolidates Asbestos Exposure Actions, Finding Common Issues of Fact, Law

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Rhode Island state justice has consolidated two cases in which the plaintiffs allege asbestos exposure while working at the same Narragansett Electric facility, finding that common issues of fact and law are present in the actions.

In an Oct. 10 opinion, Justice Alice B. Gibney of the Rhode Island Superior Court ruled that the jury will not be confused by the plaintiffs’ different exposure histories and the fact that they did not work at the facility at the same time.

Joseph Podedworny was employed by Narragansett Electric from 1952 to 1984 in a variety of positions, …