Craig Liljestrand Authors Article on How Maritime Law Defeated an Asbestos Claim

Craig T. Liljestrand, a Chicago-based partner in the Product Liability practice area at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, authored the article, "Federal Court Shows How Maritime Law Defeated Plaintiff's Asbestos Claim," published by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin on January 13, 2016. This article is part of Mr. Liljestrand's monthly column with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin "Toxic Tort Talk."

The article discussed how a New Jersey federal court recently granted a defendant's summary judgment motion pursuant to maritime law. Feaster vs. A.W. Chesterton Co. (No. 14-3417) (KMW) (D.N.J. 2015).  The plaintiff worked for a shipbuilder and dry dock company from 1958 to 1967 as a cleaner. The plaintiff argued that maritime law did not apply, since the plaintiff's exposure did not occur on open navigable waters. The court determined that work on "navigable waters" (in order for maritime law to apply), must be sea-based work. Here, although the plaintiff's exposure resulted at the shipyard, these ships where the exposure occurred were physically docked on the water. The court further found under maritime law that the defendant did not manufacture the asbestos-containing products in question, resulting in summary judgment. 

Read the full article, "Federal Court Shows How Maritime Law Defeated Plaintiff's Asbestos Claim," on the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin website. Please note a subscription is required. 

Craig Liljestrand has extensive experience in the areas of toxic tort, products liability and environmental litigation. He is recognized for his litigation and trial skills in the areas of asbestos, silica, welding fumes, lead paint and occupational disease claims.