Calif. Court Reverses Summary Judgment for Colgate-Palmolive in Asbestos Talc Case

SAN FRANCISCO –– A California Court of Appeal has reversed a summary judgment award entered in favor of Colgate-Palmolive in an asbestos talcum powder case, finding that the plaintiff had presented sufficient evidence to create a triable issue of fact as to whether the defendant’s product contained asbestos.

In the Oct. 19 opinion, the California Court of Appeal, First District, Division Three, opined in part that the trial court had failed to comply with the Code of Civil Procedure requiring a written order specifying reasons for its determination.

And, the court said, while the judgment prepared by defense counsel “provided …