Asbestos Plaintiff Can't Pursue Premises Claim Against Ex-Employer, Court Holds

SEATTLE - A Washington state appeals court has refused to allow an asbestos plaintiff to pursue his third-party tort claim against a premises defendant that was also once the plaintiff's employer. Campbell v. Lockheed Shipbuilding Corp., No. 49305-1-T (Wash. Ct. App.).

The Washington Court of Appeals said in a Nov. 25 decision affirming dismissal of a lawsuit Patrick Campbell filed against his former employer, Lockheed Shipbuilding Corp., that Lockheed is already liable for Campbell's asbestos-related injury under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. Therefore, the appeals court ruled, the suit attempting to hold Lockheed liable in tort as a …