Court Affirms Summary Judgment, Finds Claims Time-Barred

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana appellate court has affirmed summary judgment awards to several defendants after finding that the plaintiffs failed to present evidence that a reasonably experienced physician could have diagnosed them with asbestos-related diseases within 10 years of the defendants' last distribution of asbestos-containing products. Jurich v. John Crane, et al., No. 45D01-9704-CT-345 (Ind. Ct. App.).

In a March 31 opinion, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected the plaintiffs' position that the presence of lung damage is enough to indicate that an asbestos-related condition could arise.

Plaintiff Nicholas Jurich claimed that his work at a steel plant for more …