11th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Lockheed Suppliers in Beryllium Case

ATLANTA - The 11th Circuit has affirmed summary judgment for supplier defendants in a lawsuit brought by former workers in an aircraft manufacturing plant who claim that years of exposure to beryllium particles has left them with chronic beryllium disease or a precursor of that illness. Parker, et al. v. Schmiede Machine and Tool Corp., et al., No. 10-14703 and 10-14741 (11th Cir.).

The Circuit Court ruled on Oct. 21 that a lower court did not err in ruling that plaintiffs' employer, Lockheed, Martin Corp., was a sophisticated user and learned intermediary under Georgia product liability law, absolving defendants of …