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LJ REFERENCE
SUPREMECOURTOF THE STATEOFNEW YORK
COUNTYOF NEW YORK : PART 12
------------------x
IN RE:NEW YORK CITY ASBESTOSLITIGATION
------------------x
IndexNo. 190372112
This DocumentRelatesTo:
ESTHER BARUCH ANdNERYE BARUCH,et al.,
Plaintiffs,
DECISION AND ORDER
- against-
et al.,
BAXTERHEALTHCARECORPORATION,
Defendants.
BARBARA JAFFE, J.:
For plaintiffs:
Thomas E. Comerford, Esq.
Weitz& Luxenberg,P.C.
700 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
2l2-558-5500
For joint defendants:
StephenNovakidis, Esq.
Sedgwick, LLP
Three GatewayCtr., l2'h Fl.
Newark,NJ 07102
973-242-0002
For Baxter (Am. Sci.):
StevenT. Corbin, Esq.
Philip J. O'Rourke, Esq.
Lewis Brisbois et al.
7'7Water St., Ste.2100
New York, NY 10005
212-232-t300
For Fisher:
RichardO'Leary, Esq.
ReneeA. Gallagher,Esq.
McCarter & English, LLP
245 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10167
212-609-6800
For Burnham:
Matthew L. Charles,Esq.
Wilson, Elser et al.
150E. 42"dSr.
New York, NY 10017-5693
212-915-6046
For Pneumo Abex:
Alfred J. Sargente,Esq.
Hawkins Pamell et al.
90 Broad St., 4'hFl.
New York, NY 10004
212-981-450r
John T. Williams, Esq.
Hinkhouse Williams Walsh LLP
180N. StetsonAve., Ste.3400
Chicago,Illinois 60601
3r2-784-5400
For Biltrite/Carrier/Clyde:
JessicaMullery, Esq.
Wilson, Elser et al.
1 5 0E . 4 2 " dS t .
New York, NY 10017
212-490-3000
For Volkswagen Group:
Michael B. Sena,Esq.
Herzfeld & Rubin P.C.
125 Broad St.
New York, NY 10004
212-471-8500
For Siemens:
Julia A. Taurence,Esq.
Wilson Elser et al.
1 5 0E . 4 2 " dS t .
New York, NY 10017-5693
212-490-3000
For Lennox/Union/I)ana:
Daniel E. DeCicco,Esq.
Darger Errante et al.
116E. 27thSL at Park Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-452-5300
For Goodyear:
Ian S. Millican, Esq.
Lynch Daskal Emery LLP
2 6 4 W . 4 0 ' hS t .
New York, NY 10018
For Oakfabco:
Mark K. Hsu, Esq.
Hawkins Pamell et al.
90 Broad St., 9'hFl.
New York, NY 10004-2205
212-897-9655
For Standard:
Matthew J. Rice, Esq.
McCarter & English, LLP
245 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10167
212-609-6800
For Fel-Pro:
Jeffrey J. Sheng,Esq.
Wilson Elser et al.
1 5 0E . 4 2 " dS t .
New York, NY 10017
212-490-3000
For Blackmer:
Robert A. Schaefer,Jr., Esq.
Harris Beach PLLC
100 Wall St.
New York, NY 10005
212-687-0100
For Nash:
David Sasser,Esq.
McGivney & Kluger, P.C
80 Broad St., 23'dFl.
New York, NY 10004
212-509-3456
For Ford:
Evan L. Browne, Esq.
Aaronson Rappaport et al.
600 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-593-6700
For Volvo:
Cynthia Lee, Esq.
Hardin, Kundla et al.
673 Morris Ave., PO Box 730
Springfield,NJ 07081
9',73-912-5222
By order to show causedatedJuly 8, 2013,plaintiffs move pursuantto CPLR 602 fot an
order consolidatingthe following casesfor trial: (1) EstherBaruch,Index No.190372/12;
() Arthur
(3) Karl Fersch,IndexNo. 190468112;
(2)Harry Brown, IndexNo. 190415112;
Fischer,Index No. 190462112;(5) JosephGoldman,Index No. 190266112;(6) Arthur Juni,
(8) JohnNelson,IndexNo.
IndexNo. 1903l5lI2; (7) PatrickMcCloskey,IndexNo. 190441112;
(9) Carl Terry, Index No. 190403112;and(10) Daryl Middleton, Index No.
190247112;
190367112.
Defendantsjointly oppose,with supplementalopposition submitted in the following
cases: (1) Baruch, by defendantsBaxter HealthcareCorporation (Baxter) (alUaAmerican
Scientific), and Fisher Scientific Company LLC (Fisher); (2) Terry, by defendantsSiemens
Industry Inc., Carrier Corporation (Carrier), American Biltrite Inc. (incorrectly slWaAmerican
Biltrite, Inc., individually and as successorto Amtico Floors) (Biltrite/Amtico), Burnham LLC
(Burnham), Lennox Industries, Inc. (Lennox), and Union Carbide Corporation (Union Carbide);
CarrierandBlackmer;
(3) Brown,by defendantCarrier;(4) Nelson,by defendants
Biltrite/Amtico,clyde union, Inc. (inconectlys/trlaunion Pump
(5) McCloskey,by defendants
Goodyearcanada
company)(clyde), Burnham,andThe GoodyearTire & Rubbercompanyand
FederalMogul AsbestosPersonalInjury Trust
Inc. (together,Goodyear);(6) Juni,by defendants
to Felt ProductsMfg. Co.,PneumoAbex LLC (Abex),DanaCompanies'LLc
asSuccessor
(Dana),oakfabco,Inc. (oakfabco),andFordMotor company(Ford);(7) Fersch,by defendants
Abex, andVolkswagenGroupof America,Inc. (Volkswagen);(8) Middleton,by defendants
Ford,andVolvo Carsof North America(Volvo);
Abex, StandardMotor Products(Standard),
and(9) Fischer,by defendantThe NashEngineeringcompany(Nash).
I. APPLICABLELAW
pursuantto CpLR 602(a),a motionfor ajoint trial restsin the discretionof the trial court'
(SeeRodgersv Worrell,2!4 AD2d 55312dDept19951).Generally,in orderto join actionsfor
trial, theremustbe a "plain identitybetweenthe issuesinvolvedin the [ ]two controversies."
(ViggoS.S.Corp.v Marship Corp. of Monrovia,26NY2d 157U9701).A motion for a joint trial
prejudiceto a substantialright. (See
shouldbe grantedunlessthe opposingpartydemonstrates
Fransenv Maniscalco,256AD2d 305 [2ndDept 1998]; seeIn re New YorkCityAsbestos
discretionin
Litigation[Bernard],99AD3d 410 [1't Dept2012][courtprovidentlyexercised
consolidatingactionsfor joint trial astheyinvolvedcommonquestionsof law andfact and
defendantdid not establishprejudicel).
In determiningwhetherto consolidatethe individualplaintiff s casesfor a joint trial
courtsconsiderthe factorssetforth in Malcolmv
wheretheplaintiffs allegeexposureto asbestos,
Co.,995FZd346(2d Cir 1993):
Ntl.Gypsum
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
the same
whetherthe plaintiffs workedat a commonworksite,not necessarily
work locationbut a similarkind of worksite;
asbestos
whetherthe plaintiffs had similaroccupations'asa "worker's exposureto
with
mustdependmainly on his occupation,"suchasthosewho workeddirectly
to
asbestos
exposed
asopposedto thosewho were
materialscontainingasbestos
asbYstanders;
over a similarperiodof time;
whetherthe plaintiffs wereexposedto asbestos
jury
whetherthe plaintiffs sufferor sufferedfrom a similartype of disease,asthe
will hearevidenceaboutthe etiologyandpathologyof eachdisease,andthereis
sufferersmay havecloseto normallife
, an opportunityfor prejudiceasasbestosis
spanswhile othersmayhaveterminalcancers;
(5)
whetherthe plaintiffs arealive;"deadplaintiffsmay presentthejury with a
of the fatethat awaitsthoseclaimantswho arestill
powerfuldemonstration
living";
(6)
the statusofdiscoveryin eachcase;
(7)
by the samecounsel;and
whetherthe plaintiffs arerepresented
(S)
whetherthe plaintiffs sufferfrom the sametypeof cancer,aseachcancertype
requires"distinct testimonyregardingetiology,pathology,andconsequences."
(Malcolm,995F2d at 350-353).
namedin eachcase.
Anotherfactorto be consideredis the numberof defendants
II. PLAINTIFFS'INFORMATION
A. EsterBaruch
in 1994while
Baruchsuffersfrom mesothelioma.Shewasallegedlyexposedto asbestos
workingasa laboratorytechnicianin Brooklyn,New York andusinglaboratoryglovesthat
on a daily basis,andthenbetween1996and 1998,while shelaunderedher
containedasbestos
insulationandpipe
family's clothesin her homenextto a boiler which hadasbestos-containing
remainingin her actionareBaxter/AmericanScientificandFisher.
covering.Thetwo defendants
4
B. Hanlt Brown
asbestosfrom 1958 to
Brown suffers from mesothelioma,and was allegedly exposedto
commercial' industrial,
1974 whileemployed as an insulator for multiple contractorsat numerous
and powerhousesites through New
york City. He was allegedly exposedto asbestos-containing
wallboard' joint
productsincluding boilers, turbines, pumps, chillers, insulation piping, spray,
in his action are
compound,floor and ceiling tiles, and gaskets. The 14 defendantsremaining
LILCO'
Bell & Gossett,Carrier,con Edison,crane co., DB Riley, FosterWheeler,Goulds,
Mario DiBono, Northern, Peerless,Port Authority, Tishman (WTC), and Warren'
C. Karl Fersch
Ferschsuffers from lung cancer,and was allegedly exposedto asbestoswhile working as
an auto mechanic in the 1950sthrough the 1990sin various garagesin New York, and while
working directly with or near brakes,clutches,and gasketsthat contained asbestos' He also
worked in commercial spacesaround boilers containing asbestosbetween 1957 and 1966 in the
Bronx, and while performing home renovation work that exposedhim to asbestos-containing
insulation, caulking, ceiling and floor tiles, and wallboard. The two defendantsremaining in his
action are Abex and Volkswagen.
D. Arthur Fischer
Fischerdied of mesotheliomaon December27,2012. Between 1950and t954,he
worked as a civilian draftsman at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and installed radar systemsand
equipmenton ships. He was allegedly exposedto asbestoscontainedin gaskets,packing, and
insulation handled in his presenceby yardworkersworking on pumps, valves, and turbines on
various Navy ships. The 1l defendantsremaining in his action are Aurora, Buffalo,
Nash, Northem, and warren'
chicago Pump, crosby, Edwards, Fairbanksco., oneida,IMo,
E. JosePhGoldman
at the
Goldman suffers from mesothelioma. He was employed as a civilian machinist
in New Jersey
Brooklyn Navy yard between 1940 and 1943and as a machinist at a factory
repairs to pumps,
between l95l and 1952. Hewas allegedly exposedto asbestoswhile making
were working
valves, packing, and gaskets,and while working around others on Navy ships who
on boilers, turbines, generators,valves, pumps' piping and insulation' The eight defendants
remaining in his action are Atwood, Aurora, Buffalo, Chicago Pump, Goulds, IMO, Northern,
and Warren.
F. Arthur Juni
Juni suffers from mesothelioma. While working as a mechanic from t964 to 2009,
he was exposedto asbestoscontainedin brakes,clutches,axles and engines/manifoldson pieces
of heavy equipment. Specifically, while working as a courier in the machine shop of a
powerhouse,he was exposedto asbestos-containingblock pipe covering, cement,paper,and
blanketsused in his presence,and while working as an auto mechanic,he was exposedto
asbestoscontainedin brakes, clutches,manifold gaskets,and blankets. He may also have been
exposedto asbestoswhen presentin his father's dentistry office from work done on false teeth.
The sevendefendantsremaining in his action are Caterpillar, Dana, Ford, International, Kerr,
Lipo Rollaway, and Ranson & Randolf.
G. Patrick McCloskelt
McCloskey suffers from mesothelioma. He was exposedto asbestosfrom 1963 to 2004
while working as a steamfitter at various commercial and industrial worksites, including
worked directly with
powerhouses,offlce buildings, hospitals, schools,and refineries' He
productscontaining asbestossuch as gaskets,packing, insulation, and
btanketswhile working
pipe covering, steam
with pumps, valves, turbines, heating and cooling coils, heat exchangers,
workers in his
traps, and sheetrock. He was also exposedto asbestosdust createdby other
on
presenceas they worked with plaster, floor tiles, spray-onfireproofing, and insulation
are AO Smith,
equipmentsuch as pumps and boilers. The 31 defendantsremaining in his action
Con
Amtico, Azrock, Bell & Gossett,Buffalo, Bumham, Chicago Pump, Cleaver Brooks,
Edison, Crown Boiler, Dana, DB Riley, FairbanksCo., Foster Wheeler, Gardner Denver'
Goodyear,Goulds, Kennedy, Mario DiBono, Morse Diesel, oakfabco, Peerless,Port Auth.,
Sarco,Superior,Tishman (WTC), Treadwell, Turner, Union Pumps, Warren, and Weil McClain'
H. John Nelson
Nelson suffers from mesothelioma,and was exposedto asbestosas a seamanand
radarmanin the Navy between 1951 and 1954. While performing his fire watch and cleanup
duties aboardNavy ships undergoing shipyardrepairs,he was allegedly exposedto asbestos
while observingother workers welding, tearing off insulation, and re-insulating pipes, pumps,
valves, boilers, turbines, and refrigeration plants. The sevendefendantsremaining in his action
are Atwood, Blackmer, Buffalo, Carrier,IMO, Northern, and Warren'
L Carl Terry
Terry suffers from mesothelioma. While working as a gas station attendantbetween 1967
and 1968,he worked around and assistedbrake mechanics. While working as an electrician and
constructionworker from 1971 to 2012 in residential,commercial, and industrial settings,he was
exposedto asbestoscontained in electrical parts and oomponents,such as panels,switch gears,
gaskets,packing,rope,
andcircuitbreakers,boilers,furnaces,hot waterheaters,pumps,valves,
joint compound,cement,insulation,ceilingandfloor tiles, andplasterers'The 34
sheetrock,
remainingin his actionareAO Smith,Allen Bradley,Amtico, Azrock' Bell
defendants
& Gossett,Burnham,Carrier,Compudyne,CraneCo.,Crosby,CrownBoiler, CutlerHammer,
DunhamBush,Fairbanks,Fulton,Goulds,GouldsElectric,ITE,Kaiser,Kennedy,Kentile,
RobertShaw,Rockwell,Square-D,Tishman'
Kohler,Lennox,MorseDiesel,Murray,Peerless,
Turner,Union Pumps,Union Carbide,andWeil Mcl-ain'
J. Daryl Middleton
Middletonis dying of lung cancer.From 1979to 1980,he workedasa gasattendant
while his co-workersperformedbrake,clutch,andrelatedrepairwork. From 1980to 1984and
remainingin his
l98B to Z000,heperformedmuffler andbrakerepairs.The l0 defendants
actionareAbex, EIS, Ford,Honda,International,Maremont,Nissan,Saab,Toyota,andVolvo.
III. ANALYSIS
A. Baruch
is uniqueto this group,ie, throughwearinglaboratory
As Baruch'sexposureto asbestos
gloveswhile working at a laboratoryandwhile workingnext to a boiler at home,andthetwo
in no otheraction,her caseshouldbe tried
remainingin her actionaredefendants
defendants
from the others.
separately
B. NaW Ctroup(Fischer.Goldman.Nelson)
while working on Navy shipsor at the Navy
Theseplaintiffs wereexposedto asbestos
yard betweenthe 1940sand 1950s.Thus,any"stateof the art" evidencethey offer will overlap.
(SeeegIn re New YorkCity AsbestosLitigation [CapozioJ,22 Misc 3d 1109[Af,2009NY Slip
Op 50072[U][SupCt, New York County2009] [similaritiesin mannerin which almostall
during
plaintiffsperformedtasksin constructiontradeswhich exposedthemto asbestos
alsowould be
overlappingperiodsfrom 1940sto 1990s;stateof art andotherexperttestimony
common])'
substantially
containedwithin insulation
All wereengagedin activitiesthat exposedthemto asbestos
pumps,andvalves.(SeeIn theMatter of New YorkCity AsbestosLitigation [DummittJ,36 Misc
3d t234lAl,20l2NY Slip op 51597[U][SupCt, New York county 2012] [finding sufficient
similarityof occupationsasboth plaintiffs allegedexposurefrom work, includingequipment
andconstructionwork, andnatureof exposurealsosimilar]). While
repairandmaintenance
including
plaintiffsmayhaveworkedat differentsites,a well-organizedtrialpresentation,
will reduceanyconfusion.
materialsfor thejurors to usein organizingtheir deliberations,
Two out of the threeplaintiffs areliving, andall threesufferor sufferedfrom
mesothelioma.The two living plaintiffs arethe oldestof the ten plaintiffs. Finally,of the 14
remainingin thesecases,four arein all threecases(Buffalo,IMO, Northern,and
defendants
Warren),andfour arein at leasttwo (Atwood,Aurora,ChicagoPump,andGoulds)' Of the
threeof the themarein noneof the othersevenactions' Thus,there
remainingsix defendants,
in commonthannot.
aremoredefendants
For thesereasons,thereexistin thesethreecasescommonissuesthat predominateover
that anyundueprejudicewill result,or that
havenot established
individualissues,anddefendants
right to dueprocesswill be violated.
their fourteenthamendment
C. AutomotiveGrottpFersch' Juni. Middleton)
Theseplaintiffs workedasmechanics,albeitat differentfacilitiesandtimes(1950sto
periodof the 1970sto the 1990s),andwereexposedto asbestos
2000s,with an overlapping
containedin automotivebrakesandclutches.While two of the threesufferfrom lung cancerand
arethe only two in this trial clusterwith this diagnosis,the level of toxicity
is
of their diseases
repetitiveor redundant
the sameandmuchof the samemedicalevidencewill be presented.Any
of New
medicaltestimonymay be limited to reducethe lengthof the trial. (SeeIn theMatter
Litigation[AttholzJ,l l Misc 3d 1063[A],2006 NY Slip Op 50375[U][Sup
YorkCity Asbestos
andonehad lung cancer,
Ct, New york County 20061[whilemostplaintiffshadmesothelioma
jury confusionasdiseases
evidenceasto both cancerswould not generallycauseunduedelayor
etiologyandpathologyl).
sharedcomparable
remainingin theseactions,threearein two of themand
Moreover,of the 16defendants
arein only oneof thesethreecases,
in noneof the otheractions. While the other13defendants
12of themarein no otheractions.
D. ConstructionGroup
@rown.McCloskey.Terry)
while working aslaborersor around
Theseplaintiffs wereallegedlyexposedto asbestos
laborersat industrial,residential,andcommercialsitesandbuildingsbetweenthe 1950sand
betweenthe 1960sand 1970s,andall were
2000s,with an overlappingperiodof two decades
containedin
exposedno laterthanthe 1960s.All threewereallegedlyexposedto asbestos
gaskets,boilers,pumps,floor tile, andinsulation'
in
Theyareall alive andsufferingfrom mesothelioma.Moreover,of the 53 defendants
while 20
theseactions,threearein all threeactions(Bell & Gossett,Goulds,andPeerless),
19arein noneof the otherseven
arein two of the actions;of these23 defendants,
defendants
arein
in only oneof thesethreeactions,25 defendants
actions.Of the remaining30 defendants
noneofthe othersevenactions.
IV. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is hereby
10
consolidating
ORDERED,that plaintiffs' motionto consolidateis grantedto the extentof
the following casesfor a joint trial:
(1)
(b) JosephGoldman,Index
Groupone - (a) ArthurFischer,IndexNo. 190462112;
No.190366112;and(c)JohnNelson,IndexNo'190247112;
(Z)
GroupTwo , (a) HarryBrown,IndexNo. 1904151t2;(b) PatrickMcCloskey,
and(c) CarlTerry,IndexNo. 190403/12;
IndexNo. 190441112;
(3)
(b) ArthurJuni,IndexNo.
GroupThree- (a) Karl Fersch,IndexNo. 190463/12;
is turther
l90315ll2; and(c) DarylMiddleton,IndexNo. 190367112;it
shallbetried separately;
ORDERED,that the EsterBaruchaction,IndexNo. 190372112,
it is further
ORDERED,that the partiesin Trial GroupOneshallappearfor a final pretrialconference
in room279,80 CentreStreet,New
er 24,2013at 10am,aspreviouslyscheduled,
on Septemb
York, New York.; it is further
ORDERED,that thejoint trials of the remainingTrial Groupsandthe Baruchtrial shall
commencesubjectto courtavailabilityon at leastfive days'noticefollowing the completionof
the trial groupsaheadof them.
ENTER:
DATED:
August20,2013
New York" New York
ll