Wis. Court Declines to Adopt ‘Bare Metal’ Defense in Asbestos Case

MILWAUKEE –– A Wisconsin federal court has declined to award summary judgment to three defendants named in an asbestos suit, rejecting the defendants’ stance that they could not be held liable for the decedent’s injuries because they did not manufacture or supply the asbestos-containing component parts used with their products.

In the June 3 order, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin opined that it would “make little sense” to prohibit liability simply because the decedent did not encounter the products until some of the components were replaced.

Shirley D. Spychalla filed the claims on behalf of …