Articles

Missed opportunity : California Supreme Court refuses to hear “adjacent liability” case

October 01, 2015 | By DEBORAH LA FETRA

Yesterday, the California Supreme Court denied the petition for review in Sherman v. Hennessy Industries, in which the California Court of Appeal held that the manufacturer of a safe product can be liable for injuries caused by unsafe products used with the safe product.  PLF had urged the Court to accept the case. The court … ...

Articles

Extending tort liability on the basis of indirect economic benefit

September 03, 2015 | By DEBORAH LA FETRA

In Sherman v. Hennessy Industries, the California Court of Appeal held that the manufacturer of an “arcing machine”—essentially a highly calibrated saw used to customize brake linings—is liable for injuries caused by asbestos dust released by certain brake linings even though the machine itself contains no asbestos. The decision cre ...