In re: Asbestos Prods. Liability — civil — reversal — Hardiman

A railroad worker was exposed to asbestos used for insulation on railcars. He contracted asbestosis and mesothelioma and sued the railcar manufacturers under state law. The defendants argued that the state-law claims were pre-empted, and the district court agreed and dismissed the suit. Today the Third Circuit reversed, holding that the district erred procedurally by dismissing based on facts that were not pled in the complaint. The court acknowledged that the district court could treat the motion as one for summary judgment instead of dismissal, but held that summary judgment was not appropriate here either because the defendants did not provide evidentiary support for the district court’s factual finding, or, at a minimum, there was a factual dispute and the court had to draw inferences in the non-movant’s favor.

Joining Hardiman were Ambro and Nygaard. Arguing counsel were John Roven of Houston for the appellant (joined on the brief by Howard Bashman ) and Holli Pryer-Baze of Akin Gump and Joseph Richotte for the appellees.