Calif. Jury Reaches Defense Verdict for 4 Automotive Defendants

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- A California jury has reached a defense verdict for four automotive defendants, accepting their argument that the plaintiff's smoking habit caused his lung cancer, not his work with the defendant's asbestos-containing car products. Steiner v. Advance Auto Parts, et al., No. 1374169 (Calif. Super. Ct., Santa Barbara Cty.).

The California Superior Court for Santa Barbara County jury reached its verdict on Oct. 3 after six weeks of trial and approximately two hours of deliberations, sources said. Judge Thomas P. Anderle presided over the trial.

Pneumo-Abex Corp., Ford Motor Co., Nissan North America Inc. and Volkswagen Group …