Court: Product Manufacturers not Liable for Replacement Parts

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington Supreme Court has expanded on an earlier order in which it ruled that an evaporator manufacturer was not liable for asbestos insulation later placed in its product as a replacement part. Braaten v. Saberhagen Holdings, et al., No. 80251-3 (Wash. Sup. Ct.).

In the Dec. 11 opinion, the high court held that manufacturers that did not make, sell, distribute or market the replacement parts could not "treat the burned of accidental injury caused by asbestos in the replacement products as a cost of production against which liability insurance could be obtained."

Vernon Braaten sued several …