Court Reverses Order on Jurisdiction in Asbestos Case, Says Plaintiffs Failed to Allege that Defendant Purposefully Availed Itself to Benefits of Wash. Market

SEATTLE –– The Washington high court has reversed an intermediate appellate court on specific jurisdiction in an asbestos case, finding that the trial court was correct in its assessment that it did not have jurisdiction over the matter since the plaintiffs had failed to allege any action taken by the defendant to “purposefully avail itself of the benefits and protections of the Washington market.”

In the June 8 opinion, the Washington Supreme Court said that while specific jurisdiction is lacking in the case, recently disclosed evidence of Special Electric’s “substantial business connections” to the state may be relevant to a …