VERDICT: $8 million, 2 mesothelioma deaths due to BNSF’s handling of vermiculite containing asbestos at its Libby railyard… defense verdict as to negligence and punitives. [Read more…]
Insurance, defend/indemnify State for Libby asbestos
INSURANCE: Insurer correctly held to have breached duty to defend State for injury/death claims resulting from Libby asbestos… rulings that led to $97,833,193.93 judgment against insurer upheld except as to qualifying “occurrences” and coverage for claimants exposed to asbestos prior to policy period… Holly Brown affirmed, reversed. [Read more…]
Libby Medical Program reimbursement
Cross motions for summary judgment on Libby Medical Program reimbursement issues denied, trial to be set… Sandler. [Read more…]
Libby asbestos claims against BN, supervisory control
LIBBY ASBESTOS claims against BN not preempted by FRSA or HMTA… BN subject to strict liability because handling of asbestos constitutes abnormally dangerous activity, but protected from liability under Restatement of Torts §521 for actions taken pursuant to statutory public duty, for those actions is subject only to ordinary negligence… BN may not refute causation by offering Grace’s conduct as a substantial factor or superseding intervening cause of injuries… Eddy affirmed, reversed on supervisory control. [Read more…]
Logger ARD/OD
Logger timely filed ARD OD claim, ARD was OD for which insurer liable, Claimant entitled to medical/impairment award/PTD/costs but not attorney fees or penalty despite Court’s misgivings… Sandler. [Read more…]
Railroad in limine rulings
RAILROAD IN LIMINE RULINGS… Eddy. [Read more…]
Railroad strict liability
RAILROAD LIABILITY: BNSF strictly liable for abnormally dangerous activity vis-à-vis hauling amphibole asbestos in Libby… evidence of Grace’s conduct admissible for background and context but not to negate liability… Eddy. [Read more…]
Lead case against Grace’s comp insurer pre-trial rulings
LEAD CASE AGAINST GRACE’S COMP INSURER: Fact issues preclude summary judgment as to when Plaintiff knew he had ARD. . . MCC owed a duty of care to warn Zonolite and Grace of the hidden hazard of asbestos exposure, but fact issues exist as to whether it breached this duty to Plaintiff. . . Plaintiff who filed no comp claim has no common law insurance bad faith claim against MCC. . . MCC’s non-party (State, Grace) defenses precluded. . . other in limine rulings. . . Eddy. [Read more…]
$8,810,785 settlements with State
SETTLEMENT: $7,310,785.42 to 336 MHSL Libby Mine asbestos Claimants against State with contingent $2,030,936.19 dependent on result of litigation between State and its insurer. . . $1,250,000 to 49 KS Libby Mine Claimants with contingent $400,000. . . $250,000 for individual claimant with no insurer contingency. . . 33% and 33-1/3% contingent attorney fees approved. . . Eddy. [Read more…]
Request for additional depositions
BNSF’s request for leave to take additional depositions denied. . . Eddy. [Read more…]