Amici Ask High Court to Reverse Decision In Substantial Factor Dispute

SAN FRANCISCO -- An amici group has filed a brief supporting Crane Co.'s petition to review the affirmation of a $3.9 million asbestos verdict, asking the California Supreme Court to clarify that de minimis exposures are insufficient to satisfy the substantial factor test. Norris v. Crane Co., No. S162878 (Calif. Sup. Ct.).

In the May 7 filing, the group claims that plaintiffs have wrongfully been allowed to submit evidence of "any exposure," which in turn allows them to sue "thousands of defendants every year whose supposed 'contribution' to disease is trivial and far below the type of doses actually known …