Tina Willis v. Bw Ip International Inc.

The opinion of the court was delivered by: Eduardo C. Robreno, J.

CONSOLIDATED UNDER MDL 875

Transferred from the District of South Carolina (Case No. 09-02163)

MEMORANDUM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION...............................................2

II. BACKGROUND.................................................4

A. Plaintiff's Suit......................................4

B. Defendants' Evidence in Support of Entitlement to Summary Judgment Pursuant to the Government Contractor Defense...............................................5

1. Foster Wheeler LLC...............................5

i. Affidavit of Admiral Ben J. Lehman..........5

ii. Affidavit of J. Thomas Schroppe.............6

iii. Affidavit of Captain Lawrence Stilwell Betts.......................................7

iv. Military Specifications.....................7

v. Navy's Knowledge of the Dangers of Asbestos....................................8

2. CBS Corp. f/k/a Westinghouse.....................8

i. Affidavit of James Gate.....................8

ii. Affidavit of Admiral Roger B. Horne, Jr.....9

3. Crane Co........................................10

i. Affidavit of Admiral David Sargent.........10

ii. Affidavit of Anthony D. Pantaleoni.........10

iii. MIL-V-22023D...............................11

C. Plaintiff's Evidence Submitted in Opposition to Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment Pursuant to the Government Contractor Defense....................11

1. Deposition of Adam Martin.......................11

2. Affidavit of Captain Arnold Moore...............12

3. Affidavit of Captain William Lowell.............12

4. Evidence of Warnings Which Other Manufacturers Placed on Their Products........................13

5. Navy's Knowledge of the Dangers of Asbestos.....13

III. LEGAL STANDARD............................................14

A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a)................14

B Choice of Law........................................16

C. Government Contractor Defense........................16

IV. DISCUSSION................................................18

A. Plaintiff's Objections to the Affidavits Offered by Defendants...........................................18

B. Elements of the Government Contractor ...