Calif. Appeals Court Refuses to Apply Taylor Component Parts Ruling

LOS ANGELES -- A California appellate court has reversed a trial court judgment entered in favor of two asbestos defendants, finding that valve and pump manufacturers were not shielded from liability under the component parts doctrine. O'Neil, et al. v. Crane Co., et al., No. B208225 (Calif. 2nd Dist. Ct. App., Div. 5).

In the Sept. 18 ruling, the Second District Court of Appeal said it found flaws in the First District Court of Appeal's February 2009 ruling in Taylor v. Elliott Turbomachinery Co. Inc., saying that the appellate court failed to differentiate between harm caused by original packing and/or …