May 3, 2012 – The New York Federal Appeals Court recently ruled that asbestos liability lawsuits may move forward even though they originated with the defendant-company’s bankrupt subsidiary. This ruling no longer protects pharmaceutical giant Pfizer against liability lawsuits even though the Quigley Company acquired by Pfizer in 1968 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004. The lawsuits in question claimed that insulating products produced by Quigley contained asbestos, and that the asbestos products included the Pfizer name, logo, and trademark. As awareness of asbestos exposure hazards grew, over 160,000 asbestos exposure victims filed law suits against Quigley in the late 1970’s. Many of these suits also named Pfizer as a defendant.
Pfizer settled in 2004, on behalf of Quigley, by offering 430 million dollars to the majority of the asbestos exposed plaintiffs. Seeking injunction protection from further lawsuits, Quigley filed for bankruptcy. As a result, certain types of Quigley-related asbestos lawsuits were prevented by the bankruptcy court ruling. In May 2011, a New York federal judge overturned the 2004 bankruptcy ruling and the recent April 2012 ruling by the appellate court upheld the New York federal judge’s decision.
In its recent court ruling, the federal appeals court stated that if a company is putting out their own product manufactured by another company, it is subject to the same liability as if it were the manufacturer. This ruling is based on manufacturer liability and allows asbestos victims to sue Pfizer under Pennsylvania Law.
Philadelphia Asbestos Attorneys at Shein Law Will Fight for Asbestos Victims
The Philadelphia asbestos attorneys at the Shein Law are skilled litigators who are prepared to take on the huge corporations who attempt to deter, delay and avoid lawsuits and judgments that are meant to hold them accountable for their negligent. Our personal injury attorneys have represented victims of asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states for more than 25 years. If you or a loved one is suffering from Mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, call our office at 1-877-SheinLaw (1-877-743-4652) to schedule an appointment with one of our Philadelphia asbestos attorneys or contact us online.