R.I. Court Adopts Recommendation Denying Foster Wheeler’s Summary Judgment Motion in Asbestos Case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. –– A Rhode Island federal court has adopted a recommendation that Foster Wheeler’s attempts to obtain summary judgment in an asbestos case be denied, agreeing with the magistrate judge’s assessment that the claims were not barred by the government contractor or sophisticated user defenses.

In a March 16 order, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island additionally found that the claims were not barred by the bare metal defense since a number of courts have found that defendants could be held liable for products they did not manufacture when asbestos-containing material was essential to …