Md. Court Vacates Verdict Against Ford, Cites Expert’s Causation Testimony

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland Appeals Court has thrown out what began as a $15 million asbestos verdict after determining that an expert should not have been allowed to testify that each and every exposure to asbestos was a substantial contributing factor in the plaintiff’s development of mesothelioma. Dixon, et al. v. Ford Motor Co., No. 536 September Term, 2011 (Md. Spec. Ct. App.).

In a June 29 decision, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals agreed with defendant Ford Motor Co. that the expert’s testimony was prejudicial to the defendant because the causation opinions expressed were “not scientific” and unsupported …