Court Won't Revisit Case Law on Strict Liability Claims in Raw Asbestos Case

SAN FRANCISCO -- A jury award of more than $11 million in an asbestosis case has been upheld after an appellate court determined that the defendant who was assessed the majority of the liability was properly held responsible for the defective design of raw asbestos. Garza, et al. v. Asbestos Corporation Limited, et al., No. A116523 (Calif. 1st Dist. Ct. App., Div. 3).

In the March 28 opinion, the Court of Appeal also found that the defendant's challenges to personal jurisdiction were procedurally flawed.

Joseph and Mary Garza filed the instant action, contending that Joseph's exposure to asbestos resulted …