N.Y. Court Awards Summary Judgment to Raw Talc Suppliers in Part; Allows Post-1980 Claims to Proceed

NEW YORK –– A New York state court has awarded summary judgment to raw talc suppliers on claims in an asbestos case arising out of pre-1980 exposure, but have denied the motion as to post-1980 exposure, saying that the plaintiffs have established that there remain issues of fact as to whether the defendants’ talc was contaminated with asbestos fibers.

In the Jan. 9 order, the New York Supreme Court for New York County awarded summary judgment to Imerys Talc America Inc. and Cyprus Amax Minerals Co. as to claims for the years 1977 to 1979.

Plaintiff Jenny Shulman asserted the …