Routine joinder of Big Tobacco may become trend in asbestos cases

Toxic Tort Talk

By Craig T. Liljestrand

Craig T. Liljestrand‚ a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP‚ has experience in toxic tort litigation. He practices in the areas of asbestos‚ silica‚ welding fumes‚ lead paint, chemical and occupational disease claims. His client base includes Fortune 500 companies in which he has defended various industrial product and equipment manufacturers‚ contractors and premises owners in numerous toxic tort cases throughout the country. He is also the regional counsel for a major industrial manufacturer.

Posted October 7, 2015 3:35 PM

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals recently dismissed a plaintiff’s appeal as moot, providing interesting guidance on joinder of asbestos and tobacco defendants.The plaintiff in Stidham v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 2015 WL 5076895 (Md. Ct. Spec. App., Aug. 27, 2015), had filed a complaint against multiple asbestos manufacturers and distributors contending that he developed lung cancer because of his exposure to asbestos.The plaintiff amended the complaint by adding several tobacco companies as defendants and …

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