Court Affirms Summary Judgment to Premises Defendants

SAN FRANCISCO -- A California Appellate Court has affirmed an award of summary judgment to Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Shell Oil Co., after determining the companies could not be held liable as premises defendants. Bell v. Chevron, et al., No. A100724 (Calif. Ct. App., 1st Dist., Div. 4).

In a Feb. 28 opinion, the First District Court of Appeal found the plaintiff could not assert claims against the defendants based on the fact that he worked alongside other employees of independent contractors whose work may have exposed him to asbestos. In doing so, the court opined that the defendants could …