Wash. Court of Appeals Affirms $4.5 Million Judgment Entered in Asbestos Case Against Caterpillar

SEATTLE –– A Washington appellate court has affirmed a judgment of approximately $4.5 million entered in an asbestos case against Caterpillar Inc., rejecting the defendant’s position that the plaintiffs had failed to establish causation during trial.

In the Sept. 8 opinion, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One, opined that the case was distinguishable from Braaten in that it dealt with exposure to original asbestos-containing components of the defendant’s product.

The claims were brought on behalf of Edwin Estenson, who allegedly developed malignant mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos-containing products in the Caterpillar dozers.

In reaching its verdict, the jury …