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  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
  • ROBERT ROSS et al VS. C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS ASBESTOS document preview
						
                                

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13 15 Douglas G. Wah, Esq. SBN 64692 Thomas J. Tarkoff, Esq. SBN 160994 Foley & Mansfield, PLLP ELECTRONICALLY 300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1900 FILED Oakland, CA 94612 Superior Court of Califojnia, Telephone: (510) 590-9500 County of San Francispo Facsimile: (510) 590-9595 FEB 15 201 Attorneys for Defendant pelerk of the Cou iG JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO.,, INC. Deputy Clerk SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO ROBERT ROSS and JEAN ROSS, Case No: CGC-10-275731 Plaintiffs, “Asbestos-Related Matter” vs. ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO., INC. TO C.C. MOORE & CO. ENGINEERS, et al., PLAINTIFFS’ COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY; LOSS OF Defendants. CONSORTIUM AND REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL —- ASBESTOS Defendant JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO,, INC. ("Defendant"), in answer to the complaint of Plaintiffs, ROBERT ROSS and JEAN ROSS ("Plaintiffs") admits, denies and alleges as follows: Pursuant to the provisions of section 431.30(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure, Defendant denies each and every, all and singular, both generally and specifically, the allegations of Plaintiffs’ unverified complaint, and further denies that Plaintiffs have been damaged as alleged, or at all, by reason of any act or omission on the part of Defendant or its agents, servants or employees. FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs’ complaint, fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against Defendant. ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs have failed to join all persons and parties needed for a just adjudication of this action. THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs' claims are barred by laches, waiver and/or estoppel. FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that this Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over this action or alternatively that the Court lacks jurisdiction due to insufficiency of process or the service thereof and/or improper venue. FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs have failed to commence this action within the time required by the applicable statute of limitations, including but not limited to California Code of Civil Procedure sections 337.1, 337.15, 338(a), 338(d), 340.2, 343 and 361. SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs were careless and negligent in and about the matters alleged in the complaint and said carelessness and negligence of Plaintiffs proximately contributed to the happening of the accident, incident and occurrence alleged in the complaint, and to the injuries, losses and damages complained of therein, if any there were, and said contributory negligence bars a recovery or proportionately reduces any potential verdict. SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs failed to mitigate their alleged damages, if any there were. Mit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiffs were injured by products used or installed at Defendant's premises, which is denied, such injury occurred after the expiration of the useful safe life of such products. NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiffs suffered any damages, which is denied, such damages were the sole and proximate result of an unavoidable accident. TENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiffs’ suffered any damages, which is denied, such damages were caused and/or contributed to by Plaintiffs misuse of the product or products and Plaintiffs’ recovery should be barred or reduced accordingly. ELEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiffs suffered any damages, which is denied, such damages were solely and proximately caused by material modifications or alterations of the product or products involved in this action after it or they left the custody and control of Defendant. TWELFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that any asbestos-containing product or products alleged to have caused Plaintiffs’ injuries were manufactured, used, installed and/or distributed in mandatory compliance with specifications promulgated by the United States government under its war powers, as set forth in the U. S. Constitution, and that any recovery by Plaintiffs is barred as a consequence of the exercise of those sovereign powers. Lif iit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that any product or products alleged by Plaintiffs to have caused their injuries were manufactured, installed, used or distributed in compliance with specifications provided by third parties to Defendant and/or in compliance with all applicable health and safety statutes and regulations. FOURTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiffs suffered any damages, which is denied, the risk of any such damages was not foreseeable to Defendant. Defendant at all times material hereto acted in accordance with the industry custom and practice and the state of scientific knowledge available to manufacturers, installers and/or users of asbestos-containing products. FIFTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it received no notice of any dangerous, hazardous or defective condition or any breach of warranty, either expressed or implied SIXTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs’ claims against Defendant are barred by the holding of Privette vy, Superior Court (1993) 5 Cal.4th 689. SEVENTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs’ exposure to any asbestos-containing product or products allegedly used or installed at Defendant's premises was minimal and insufficient to establish the probability that said product or products were a legal cause of Plaintiffs' alleged injuries. it Lif iit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 EIGHTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that this action is barred by the applicable state and/or federal industrial insurance and/or Workers! Compensation laws, including, but not limited to, California Labor Code sections 3601 and 3602, and 33 U.S.C. section 905. NINETEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that at the time of the injuries alleged in Plaintiffs’ complaint, ROBERT ROSS was employed by persons other than Defendant; was entitled to receive and did receive Workers’ Compensation benefits from said employer(s)} or their insurers, and that said employer(s) were negligent and careless in and about the matters referred to in Plaintiffs' complaint. Defendant is, therefore, entitled to set-off any such benefits received by Plaintiffs against any judgment rendered in Plaintiffs' favor and said employer(s) are barred from any recovery by lien or otherwise against Defendant in connection with this matter. TWENTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs voluntarily and knowingly assumed the alleged risks and hazards incident to the alleged operations, acts and conduct at the times and places alleged in Plaintiffs’ complaint and that Plaintiffs’ said acts proximately caused and contributed to the alleged damages, if any there were. TWENTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that at all times relevant to the matters alleged in Plaintiffs complaint, ROBERT ROSS’ employers were sophisticated users of asbestos-containing products and said employers’ negligence in providing said products to its employees was a superseding and/or intervening cause of his injuries, if any there were. Lif iit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 TWENTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that there was no concert of action among Defendant and other defendants to this action and that any alleged liability or responsibility of Defendant, which is denied, is minimal in proportion to the alleged liability and responsibility of this person and entities including the other defendants herein. Plaintiffs should, therefore, be limited to seeking recovery from Defendant for a proportion of the alleged injuries and damages for which Defendant is allegedly liable or responsible, all such alleged liability and responsibility being denied WENTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, to the extent the complaint alleges that Defendant has "market share" liability or “enterprise liability", the complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against Defendant. TWENTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it is entitled to set-off any settlement, judgments, or similar amounts received by Plaintiffs, against any judgment rendered against it in Plaintiffs' favor. TWENTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges, in accordance with section 1431.2 of the Civil Code, known as the Fair Responsibility Act of 1986, that if Plaintiffs' complaint states a cause of action, each defendant is liable, if at all, only for those non-economic damages allocated to each defendant in direct proportion to each defendant's percentage of fault, if any. Defendant requests a judicial determination of the amount of non-economic damages, if any. Defendant also requests a judicial determination of the amount of non-economic damages, if any, allocated to Defendant in direct proportion to Defendant's percentage of fault, if any, and a separate judgment in conformance therewith, Mit 6 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 TWENTY-SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that the damages and injuries, if any, were proximately caused or contributed to, in whole or in part, by the negligence or fault or other acts and/or omissions of persons or entities other than Defendant, for which Defendant is not responsible. TWENTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that neither the complaint nor any purported causes of action alleged therein state facts sufficient to entitle Plaintiffs to an award of punitive damages against Defendant. TWENTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs’ instant action is barred or, alternatively, merged into a prior cause of action for which Plaintiffs have previously sued upon, recovered, and dismissed with prejudice, thereby requiring a complete extinguishment of the instant action due to the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. TWENTY-NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs' instant action is barred and discharged, pursuant to Title 11 U.S.C. section 1141(d), and that Plaintiffs! action violates the pending injunction against such claims that exists, by operation of law, pursuant to Title 11 U.S.C. section 524(a)(2). THIRTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that its products were manufactured, produced, supplied, sold and distributed pursuant to contract with the United States government, and that any recovery by Plaintiffs are barred by consequence of the judicially recognized doctrine of immunity conferred upon that contractual relationship and any occurrences arising therefrom. Lif iit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 THIRTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that the allegations of the complaint, are uncertain, vague and ambiguous. THIRTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that the allegations of the complaint should be dismissed pursuant to sections 583.210 through 583.250, and 583.410 through 583.430 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, and other applicable code sections THIRTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it does not have and never has had a successor, successor-in-business, successor-in-product line or portion thereof, successor-in-interest, assignee, predecessor, predecessor-in-business, predecessor-in-product line or portion thereof, predecessor-in-interest, partner, subsidiary, whole or partial or ownership or membership relationship with the entity upon which Plaintiffs base their allegations of liability. THIRTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it did not have a sufficient market share with respect to products and materials which caused the alleged injuries and damages, Defendant may not be held liable to Plaintiffs for any alleged share of said market or upon any theory premised upon market-share liability. THIRTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiffs sustained injuries or damages attributable to the use of any product researched, tested, studied, manufactured, fabricated, inadequately researched, designed, inadequately tested, labeled, assembled, distributed, leased, bought, offered for sale, sold, inspected, serviced, installed, contracted for installation, repaired, marketed, warranted, Mit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 arranged, rebranded, manufactured for others, packaged, advertised and/or which contained or lacked warnings by Defendant, which allegations are expressly denied, the injuries or damages were proximately caused by the unreasonable and unforeseeable misuse, abuse, alteration, or improper maintenance of the product by Plaintiffs or by others, THIRTY-SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that at all times mentioned, Plaintiffs consented to the alleged acts of Defendant. THIRTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that all claims asserted by Plaintiffs were proximately caused by a superseding, intervening cause. THIRTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that the entire complaint and each cause of action thereof, is barred on the grounds that the products or materials referred to in the complaint, if any, were not a substantial factor in bringing about the injuries and damages alleged by Plaintiffs THIRTY-NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that the Plaintiffs are not entitled to an award of punitive or exemplary damages in this action. Such an award would be unconstitutional unless Defendant is accorded the safeguards provided under the Constitution of the State of California and the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. FORTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that to the extent Plaintiffs’ claims arise out of contract, Plaintiffs' claims do not state facts sufficient to entitle Plaintiffs to an award of punitive or exemplary damages against Defendant. ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 FORTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs, at all times mentioned, were not in privity of contract with Defendant, and that said lack of privity bars any recovery by Plaintiffs against Defendant under any theory of breach of warranty. FORTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs failed to give adequate and timely notice of any alleged breach of warranty. FORTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs' entire complaint, is barred by the Statute of Frauds to the extent that any such causes of action are based on alleged oral agreements. FORTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that all products and materials researched, tested, studied, manufactured, fabricated, inadequately researched, designed, inadequately tested, labeled, assembled, distributed, leased, bought, offered for sale, sold, inspected, serviced, installed, contracted for installation, repaired, marketed, warranted, arranged, rebranded, manufactured for others, packaged, advertised and/or which contained or lacked warnings by Defendant which allegations are expressly denied, were not defective in any manner, as said products and materials conformed with the state-of-the-art in existence at all times mentioned in the complaint. FORTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that its alleged actions, which are the subject of the complaint, were lawful. FORTY-SLXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that its alleged actions, which are the subject of the complaint, were justified. 10 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 FORTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs lack standing to sue Defendant. FORTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that any danger or defect on the premises was obvious or could have been observed by Plaintiffs' exercise of reasonable care. FORTY-NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it warned Plaintiffs' employers of all dangers on the premises known to Defendant. FIFTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs have improperly split their causes of action and seeks to maintain a duplicative lawsuit based on the same facts and circumstances as a lawsuit previously filed. FIFTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it presently has insufficient knowledge or information on which to form a belief as to whether it may have additional, as yet unstated, defenses available. Defendant reserves the right to assert additional defenses in the event discovery indicates that they would be appropriate. FIFTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that at all times relevant to the matters alleged in Plaintiffs’ complaint, Plaintiffs knew or should have known about the hazards of asbestos containing products, and, therefore, Plaintiffs were sophisticated users of asbestos-containing products within the meaning of William Johnson v. American Standard, Inc. (2008) 74 Cal Rptr.3d 108 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 FIFTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiffs’ claims against Defendant are barred by the holding of Hooker v. Dept. of Transportation (2002) 24 Cal. 4" 198, in that Defendant did not retain control over any independent contractor sufficient to affirmatively contribute to Plaintiffs’ alleged injuries. FIFTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that it did not manufacture, sell, or distribute the product(s) at issue in Plaintiffs’ complaint. Strict liability is precluded against Defendant, a contractor/service provider, because “strict product liability theories apply only to sales or other commercial transfers of goods and not to services.” Hyland Therapeutics v. Superior Court (1985) 175 Cal. App. 3d 509, 592. See also Ferrari v. Grand Canyon Dories (1995) 32 Cal. App. 4t 248, 258; Pena v. Sita World Travel, Inc. (1978) 88 Cal. App. 3d 642, 644; Burton v. Owen (1977) 71 Cal. App. 3d 484, 498; Silverhart v. Mount Zion Hospital (1971) 20 Cal. App. 3d 1022, 1027 WHEREFORE, Defendant prays for judgment as follows: 1. That Plaintiffs' take nothing by reason of their complaint herein; 2. That judgment be entered in favor of Defendant; 3. For costs of suit incurred herein, 4. For appropriate credits and set-offs arising out of any payment of Workers’ Compensation benefits as alleged above; 5. For a judicial determination of the amount of non-economic damages, if any, allocated to Defendant in direct proportion to JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO., INC’S percentage of fault, if any, and a separate judgment in conformance therewith; and 6. For appropriate credits and set-offs arising ftom allocation of liability to other named and unnamed tort feasors; and 7. For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. Mit ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOS13 15 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure §631, JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO., INC. hereby gives Notice Of Its Request For Trial By Jury. Dated February 15, 2011 ao By: Thomas J. Tarkoff Attorneys for Defendanl| JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO., INC. ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO, INC, 10 PLAINTIFFS” COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INILRY - ASBESTOSbb woh ce wD 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Rabert Ross and Jean Ross vs. C.C. Moore & Co. Engineers, et al. San Francisco County Superior Case No. CGC-10-275731 PROOF OF SERVICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION I, the undersigned, declare as follows: Tam employed in the County of Alameda, California, and ] am over the age of 18 years and not a party to the within action. My business address is 300 Lakeside Drive, 19" Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. On the date executed below, I electronically served the documents(s) via LexisNexis File & Serve described as: ANSWER OF DEFENDANT JOSEPH BRUNO SHEET METAL CO., INC. TO PLAINTIFFS’ COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY; LOSS OF CONSORTIUM AND REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL —~ ASBESTOS on the recipients designated on the Transaction Receipt located on the LexisNexis File & Serve website. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct and that this declaration was executed on February 15, 2011, at Oakland, California. Arlene Villanueva I 1 PROOF OF SERVICE