Court Affirms Verdict Absolving Distributor in Asbestosis Suit

SAN FRANCISCO - A California appellate court has affirmed a jury's finding that a supplier of asbestos-containing insulation was not responsible for a former welder's alleged asbestosis, stating that substantial evidence supports the verdict and plaintiff's evidentiary contentions are without merit. Pollard v. Metalclad Insulation Corp., No. A112593 (Calif. Ct. App., 1st Dist.).

On March 12, California's 1st District Court of Appeal specifically said there was evidence that plaintiff Richard Pollard was not exposed to the insulation distributed by Metalclad Insulation Corp. and that Pollard's diagnosis of having an asbestos-related disease was supported only by two expert witnesses who had …