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  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
  • CHARLES HUSBAND VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (B*P) AS REFLECTED ON EXHIBITS ASBESTOS document preview
						
                                

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4 Bugene C. Blackard Jr. (Bar No. 142090) Jocelyn M. Soriano (Bar No. 201169) Jasun C, Molinelli (Bar No. 204456) jmolinelli@archenorris.com ELECTRONICALLY ARCHER. NORRIS FILED A Professional Law Corporation Superior Court of Californi 2033 North Main Street, Suite 800 County of San Froneteea Walnut Creek, California 94596-3759 Telephone: 925.930.6600 OcT 07 2011 Facsimile: 925.930.6620 oy Sik of the Court Attorneys for Defendant Deputy Clerk ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CHARLES HUSBAND, Case No. CGC-09-275098 Plaintiffs, REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION v. COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR, IN THE ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BP), ALTERNATIVE, SUMMARY ADJUDICATION Defendant. Date: October 13, 2011 Time: 9:30 a.m. Dept.: 503, Judge: Hon. Terri L. Jackson Action Filed: March 2, 2009 Trial Date: November 14, 2011 1. INTRODUCTION At the outset, Plaintiff withdrew his allegations of strict liability and request for punitive damages as to Albay in responses to Albay’s underlying motion. However, plaintiff alleges, as to the other causes of action in its complaint against Albay, that Albay has failed to shift the burden of proof to Plaintiff to show the existence of a triable issue of material fact proving a prima facie case against Albay. 1 REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONoe Oo NM DR A BF WN = - Oo — Rp Co @m@ RB DA hw BF WwW WN RoR RP BR SN NY ON vy RBRRRE BRE S Albay contends that it did shift the initial burden to show that such a fact does not exist and contends further that plaintiff has still failed to show an issue of fact does exist. Albay has proved affirmative direct and circumstantial evidence that is dispositive to plaintiff's claims. ‘Plaintiff's deposition testimony elicited by Albay is direct evidence that proves Albay did not cause plaintiff any injury and is “affirmative evidence” under controlling authority rationale, as discussed below; (2) plaintiff's factually devoid written discovery responses are’ circumstantial evidence that shows Albay did not cause plaintiff any injury and is “affirmative evidence” under controlling authority rationale, as discussed below. In light of the foregoing, and in an attempt to create a triable issue of fact, Plaintiff now attaches a gross and self-serving Declaration in support of his Opposition to Albay’s summary judgment. However, this Declaration contradicts Plaintiff's prior testimony, and should be disregarded by the Court, as discussed below. Even if considered admissible, it is fraught with speculation and lacks the foundational requirements of an expert to prove that the products actually contained asbestos or the actions of Albay caused it to be respired by plaintiff. Plaintiff then relies on the declaration of purported asbestos “expert” Charles Ay, a former shipyard pipe insulator, who styles himself a “jack-of-all-asbestos-trades,” for the proposition that certain materials identified in Plaintiff's self-serving declaration “more likely than not” contained asbestos. However, Mr. Ay is unqualified and also lacking in foundation to offer expert opinion testimony pertaining to said products, as discussed below. Even when viewed in the tight most favorable to Plaintiff, the sum total of Plaintiff's evidence against Albay is the possibility that Albay might have disturbed a product in Plaintiff's presence that might have contained asbestos. This stream of possibilities necessarily narrowing into conjecture is insufficient to create a triable issue of material fact sufficient to overcome Summary Judgment, as a matter of law. Lineaweaver v. Plant Insulation (1 995) 31 Cal. App. 4 1409; McGonnell v. Kaiser Gypsum Company (2002) 98 Cal. App.4" 1098. At the end of the day, none of the “evidence” Plaintiff relies on to support his claims against Albay constitutes evidence sufficient to overcome Summary Judgment. In the absence of 2 REGLY TO PLAINTIFFS OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONOC © WA Ww 8 BW N BRP RP NR MR KR KR NR SF FSF ee ee Se Be oO a A fh BS 8 & SF &o ew BD HW BR BW YH FH Oo any admissible evidence that raises a triable issue of material fact in this action, Albay respectfully request that this Court grant its motion for Summary Judgment. HL DISCUSSION A. Plaintifi’s Factually Devoid Discovery Responses to Albay’s Written Discovery Requests Shifts the Burden to Plaintiff, A moving defendant may rely on factually devoid discovery responses to shift the burden of proof pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §437¢(0)(2). Union Bank v, Superior Court (1995) 31 Cal. App.4" 573, 590. So long as discovery is sufficiently tailored to discover facts and supporting evidence that a particular defendant-contractor was present at a jobsite, the failure of a plaintiff to provide facts and evidence of the presence of the contractor (or product) at that jobsite is sufficient to shift the burden as to the issue of causation on a motion for summary judgment in an asbestos-related action. Scheiding v. Dinwiddie Construction Co. (1999) 39 Cal. App.4" 64, 83. Plaintiff argues in his Opposition that Albay has not shifted the initial burden under the rationale in Scheiding and its progeny. However, Albay has affirmatively produced both direct and circumstantial evidence, and has conducted sufficient discovery defined under all controlling authorities that shows plaintiff cannot prove the element of causation essential to its claims against Albay. It is clear from the review of plaintiff's deposition transcript, attached to Albay’s moving papers and Plaintiff's opposition, that Albay conducted a more than thorough examination of plaintiff. Plaintiff's contention that Albay “specifically avoided” asking questions at deposition to avoid eliciting damaging facts is preposterous and hollow. Plaintiff uses the “if I were asked at deposition ....” argument which is unfair and unjust. Defendants in San Francsico are limited in their ability to examine a plaintiff by SFGO No. 129 7.D. to completing its exam of plaintiff in 20 hours. This places an extreme burden on individual defendants where there are defendants totalling over 30 (as in this case). It is a issue of due process and it is borderline already without letting plaintiff use it as a sword against defendants. 3 REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY’S MOTION FOR, SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONoO OW DW DA BF BH RP MR R R NN NR ON NF re or pee 8 FP BBR BSB UR RE DSSS It is intended to be used as a shield protect a plaintiff from the ills of overzealous defendants piling on at deposition and dragging a person through countless hours of stiff examination. That is understandable, Even though it puts a difficult burden on the individual defendants, it is balanced by the protection it affords plaintiff's. However, to allow a plaintiff to use it as a sword to defeat a defendant’s summary judgement by declaring after the deposition that “if he were asked.. then he would have said ...... ” is completely unjust and utterly frustrates the intent of the General Order causing it to significantly prejudice defendant’s right to due process and its ability to defend itself from the contentions of plaintiff. In this case Albay did everything it could in light of GO 129 to conduct a thourough and complete examination of plaintiff. A full reading of Albay’s examination of plaintiff at bis deposition is all that is needed to refute plaintiffs contentions that Albay did not conduct a full examination of the like that was found by the Court in Hunter v. Pacific Mechanical Corp. (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1282, to be sufficient to shift the initial burden to plaintiff to show that there is a trial issue of material fact worthy of jury consideration. The Court in Schieiding distinguished itself from Hunter stating. .. “(W)e distinguish the Hunter case because it involved deposition testimony where plaintiff was specifically asked about the defendant ... (H)ere, Dinwiddie conducted no discovery. In his deposition plaintiff was not asked a single question concerning Dinwiddie.” Schieding, supra, 69 Cal. App.4" at 80. As stated above, plaintiff uses piecemeal quotes from Schieiding to support his contention that Albay did not conduct discovery to the extent necessary to prove that it did not cause plaintift any injury thus shifting the initial burden to plaintiff to prove otherwise. Plaintiff has misapplied Schieding and taken excerpis from the decision and applied them out of context in order to distort the language of the Court for his own self serving benefit. His is a GROSS misapplication and misinterpretation of the Schieding case. In Schieding, the Coutt held that a party cannot simply argue there is an absence of facts to support the opposing party’s case thus shifting the burden. Schieding, supra, 69 Cal. App.4" at p. 80. The Court further held that the duty of a party to answer completely only extended so far as the reasonable ambit of the questions which were asked. Id. In Schieding, the moving patty, REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATION1 | Dinnwiddie, conducted NO discovery and did not ask a single question of plaintiff at deposition. Therefore, the Court held that the plaintiff had no duty to volunteer information that was not requested and without the premise of such a duty, the Court was unable to rely on the inference of (in)completeness that was fundamental to their prior rules in Hunter and Union Bank finding that the discovery responses were factually devoid. Schieding, supra, 69 Cal.App.4" at pp. 80, 81. The Court in Schieding distinguished Hunter on the same rationale stating in pertinent part, “(a)ecordingly, we distinguish the Hunter case because it involved deposition testimony where the plaintiff was specifically asked about the defendant ...” Schieding, supra, 69 Cal.App.4" at pp. 80. The Court further stated, “(whe agree with Hunter that the circumstantial evidence which would be required by Hagan (referring to the use of. cireumstantial evidence to shift the burden) can consist of “factually devoid” discovery responses from which. an absence of evidence can be inferred.” As alleged and proved in its Separate Statement of Undisputed Material Facts and Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of its motion for summary judgment, Albay conducted sufficient discovery and it is clear after a thorough review of that discovery, and plaintiff's responses thereto, that plaintiff's responses across the board were devoid of any facts that would prove Albay caused him any injury. In fact, the testimony provided by plaintiff to Albay’s deposition questions affirmatively and directly proves that he was not expo ed to an asbestos-containing product as a result of Albay, nor did he ever respire any airbome asbestos caused to become so by Albay. (Albay’s Separate Statement of Undisputed Material Facts in support of Motion for Summary Judgemmt, Fact Nos. 3-8.) And, plaintiff's responses to Albay’s specifically tailored written discovery requesis were factually devoid and provided responses found by the Court in Andrews, infra, to be insufficient to prove that he was caused to be exposed. to asbestos or injured in any way by Albay. In Andrews v. Foster Wheeler (2006) 138 Cal. App. 4th 96, the Court discussed in detail the standard for shifting the initial burden of production in an asbestos related summary, ‘judgment motion. The court in Andrews considered both Plaintiff's deposition testimony and responses to written discovery. Jd., at 103-104, The moving party, like Albay in this action, served written REPLY TO PLAINTIFES OPPOSITION 10 ALBAV CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONeo ew NY DR HA RF YW YP wR MR RP RW YN NM KR KR KR FE Se eR Se Be Se Be Se Se co IQ A & B&B ob HB SF SG me NY HR mh FE BN KF S discovery asking for each fact that supported the allegations, each alleged exposure, the manner of the exposure, all witnesses or documents known to the Plaintiff, the facts known to each witness, etc. ‘These requests are nearly identical to the requests served by Albay in this case and the responses cited in Andrews are nearly identical to plaintiffs responses in this case! In Andrews, the Plaintiff responded by listing a number of sites, listing co-workers without specifying what evidence, if any, they had as to the moving patty, and restating the general allegations. Id., at 106-108. The Court found that under these circumstances, the responses were factually-devoid, and the burden was properly shifted to the Plaintiffs. For the sake of efficiency, space and time, Albay will not recite the entire decision from the Court in. Andrews, however a full reading of the decision is encouraged and is extremely enlightening when it comes to considering the value of plaintiff's discovery responses. As the Andrews Court noted, This answer [repeating the general allegations, listing some sites, and naming some co-workers] was insufficient to support a claim. It contains little more than general allegations against Foster Wheeler and does not state specific facts showing that [plaintiff] was actually exposed to asbestos-containing material from Foster Wheeler’s products. Foster Wheeler propounded... special interrogatories in its effort to obtain all the facts known to plaintiff regarding Andrews’ exposure to Foster Wheeler products. Plaintiffs provided little, if any, substantive information in it s reply. Andrews, supra, at 105. Similarly in this case, in response to specific requests seeking the identity of all facts, witnesses and documents to support their claims as to Albay, Plaintiff provided arbitrary and baseless responses intended to create a discovery quagmire for Albay, but worthless of any evidentiary value otherwise. Like in Andrews, supra, the only inference that can be drawn by this Court from Plaintiff's failure to provide fact-based responses, in light of his statutory duty to respond fully to this specific discovery, is that Plaintiffhas no such evidence. Scheiding, supra at 79, As the Scheiding court stated “[t]he inference [is that] since the plaintiff had a statutory duty to respond fully, his ‘factually devoid’ answers showed he had no facts.” Scheiding, supra at79. Thus, Plaintiff's factually-devoid responses to the interrogatories and other discovery seeking REPLY TO BLAINTIEES’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATION .So Oo Om WR Hh Rh BW Pe Soe YW DA vA BRB BW boR Bw VY YP N WK Be RBe RRR SBS information particular as to Graybar, shifted the burden on the pending motion for summary judgment. Id; Chaknova v. Wilbur-Ellis Co. (1999) 69 Cal. App. 4" 962, 974. Therefore, Plaintiff's factually devoid discovery responses in this case are the circumstantial evidence that constitutes affirmative evidence sufficient to prove that plaintiff does not have and cannot reasonably expect to obtain evidence that constitutes a prima facie case of negligence against Albay, Scheiding, supra at 83. B. Plaintiff’s Deposition Testimony Is Affirmative Direct Evidence That Albay Did Not Cause Plaintiff To Be Injured In Any Way As alleged and cited in its Separate Statement of Undisputed Material Facts, Albay elicited sworn deposition testimony from Plaintiff that affirmative shows that he was not caused to be exposed to asbestos or injured by any act or omission of Albay. (SS Nos. 3-12) There can be no question that by thoroughly examining the witness at his deposition and eliciting dispositive factual testimony from plaintiff to his own claims, Albay has acted affirmatively and created direct evidence that proves he was not exposed to asbestos by Albay. In turn, this direct evidence negates the element of causation essential to plaintiff's complaint against Albay. And, this direct evidence affirmatively shifts the burden to plaintiff to prove otherwise and that a triable issue of material fact exists. Scheiding, supra at 83; Hunter, supra, (1995) 37 Cal.App.4th 1282; Hagen v, Hickenbottom (1995) 41 Cal. App. Ath 168. Cc. The Self-Serving Declaration Of Plaintiff Contradicts His Prior Deposition Testimony And Is Inadmissible, Plaintiff cannot offer a declaration in contradiction to an admission against interest. Tn his deposition, upon questioning attorney, Plaintiff's testimony was clear as cited in Albay’s Separate Statement and attached as Exhibit “B,” to its original moving papers. Now, Plaintiff declares, months afterward when faced with a motion for summary judgment, self serving and contradictory statements in a supporting declaration attached to his Opposition to Albay’s Summary Judgment in a last ditch effort to create a material issue of fact. The Supreme Court in D'Amico v. Board of Medical Examiners (1974) 11 Cal. 3d 1, 22, recognized that: 7 REPLY TO PLAINTIFES OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATION1 Co Om NR A BF BN PN RP RP RN NOM RY Be Se eB ee pPRe RPP BBE BE BWR BDBEBHES [A]dmissions against interest have a very high credibility value. This is especially true when, as in this case, the admission is obtained not in the normal course of human activities and affairs but in the context of an established pretrial procedure whose purpose is to elicit facts. Accordingly, when such an admission, becomes relevant to the determination, on motion for summary judgment, of whether or not there exist triable issues of fact (as ‘opposed to legal issues) between the parties, it is entitled to and should receive a kind of deference not normally accorded evidentiary allegations in affidavits. Even before D’Amico, courts had consistently ruled that a party may not contradict his deposition testimony through subsequent self-serving declarations, and Courts continue to hold so today. See King v. Andersen (1966) 242 Cal. App. 2d 606; see, also, Roth v. Rhodes (1994) 25 Cal. App. 4" $30, 545. The general rule is that: In determining whether any triable issue of material fact exists, the trial court may, in its discretion, give greater weight to the admissions made in deposition and disregard contradictory and self-serving affidavits of the party. Benavidez v. San Jose Police Dept. (1999) 71 Cal. App. 4" 853, 861, citing Preach v. Monter Rainbow (1993) 12 Cal. App. 4" 1441, 1451. In the instant case, Plaintiff testified with clarity and understanding at the tire of his deposition in response to direct and tailored questions from Albay. (Pertinent portions of Plaintiff's Deposition testimony is attached to Albay’s original moving papers and Plaintiff's Opposition.) Now, plaintiff offers a declaration that is utterly self-serving and contradictory to his previous discovery responses. Furthermore, plaintiff alleges that Albay did not conduct a thorough examination. This contention is hogwash. It is improper for plaintiff to attempt to detine what should have been the scope of Albay’s examination of him at deposition. tis beyond self-serving to do so. In fact, Albay conducted a more than sufficient and thorough exam of Plaintiff, certainly given San Francisco General Order 129 deposition limitations and requirements, as discussed above. D’Amico therefore applies and this Court may properly give greater weight to the admissions made in deposition and disregard Plaintiff’s self-serving affidavit. 8 REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR | SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONCo OH NA 10 11 12 13 4 15 16 17 18 19 20 al 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 D. The DeclaRation of Charles Ay Lacks Foundation, Is Speculative And Is Tnadmissible In Its Entirety As a lynchpin to his Opposition, Plaintiff offers a Declaration of “asbestos consultant” Charles Ay, summarily concluding that dust and debris from gasket and pipe insulation materials that Plaintiff identifies in his self-serving declaration, contained asbestos. (See Declaration of Charles Ay at paragraphs 11 through 13, attached as Exhibit “C,” to plaintiffs Opposition to Summary Judgment.) 1. Ay’s Expert Testimony is Based Upon The Inadmissible Declaration of Plaintiff And Is Thus Lacking In Foundation and Inadmissible In Its Entirety. In paragraphs 31 ta 35 of his Declaration, Mr. Ay cites the basis for his opinions that the Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos as a result of Albay’s activities. Paragraph 31 starts out by stating, “(1) have reviewed the Declaration of Plaintiff...” In subsequent paragraphs, Mr. Ay goes on. to form opinions based upon facts set forth in Plaintiff’ s self-serving declaration offered in support of his opposition to Albay’s summary judgment. No where in Mr. Ay’s declaration does he indicate that he reviewed any other of Plaintiff's more reliable discovery responses whatsoever in order to form his “expert” opinions related to this case. Had Mr. Ay reviewed plaintiff's deposition testimony or his responses to written discovery requests, maybe he would have established the requisite foundation to opine further. But be did not, so that point is moot. Maybe, had he reviewed all the other pertinent, relevant and admissible evidence (plenty of it to review) Mr. Ay would have changed his opinions in paragraphs 31 to 35 of his declaration to opine that plaintiff was NOT exposed to asbestos, We just don’t know because Mr, Ay only reviewed plaintiff's last minute, self-serving declaration produced only to frustrate the summary judgment process. Mr. Ay did not review anything other than the self-serving declaration of Plaintiff which. is completely unreliable and inadmissible, as discussed above. Therefore, Mr. Ay’s opinions in paragraph 31 ~ 35 of his declaration where he comments on the chemical makeup of gaskets and pipe insulation are fruit from. a poisonous tree and are inadmissible as such. To the extent Plaintiff's Declaration is inadmissible, any “opinion” Mr. Ay asserts based on Plaintiff's 9 REPLY TO PLAINTI-TS OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONCc oe NKR WH FF YW bN WP NR BP BV RN YP fF Se SF ts eS st pexeppreERBRB SRE RIZFGQEBSH TS testimony should be disregarded by the Court, as based entirely on speculation. See Smith v. ACand8, Ine. (1994) 31 Cal. App. 4° 77, (finding that an expert in an asbestos case may not properly rely on speculative evidence); In re Cheryl H (1984) 153 Cal. App. 3d 1098 (finding that an expert may not base an opinion on inadmissible evidence from an incompetent witness.) Furthermore, it is well-settled that in order to support an opposition to summary judgment, a declaration must (a) show the declarant’s personal knowledge and competency to testify; (b) state evidentiary facts, not conclusions; (c) and not contain inadmissible hearsay or opinions. Hayman v. Block (1986) 176 Cal. App. 3d 629, 638-639. Based upon his limited review of available facts and evidence in this case and his review ONLY of plaintiffs inadmissible declaration, Mr. Ay fails on ali three requirements set forth in Hayman, 2. Ay’s Expert Testimony is Based Upon Pure Speculation and Inadmissible In Its Entirety. Under any circumstance, an expert declaration must contain enough credible evidentiary support to substantiate the opinion given. LaPlante v. Wellcraft Marine Corp. (2001) 94 Cal. App. 4" 282. “Self-serving conclusions” by expert witnesses “devoid of any basis, explanation or reasoning” are not sufficient to create a triable issue of fact to defeat summary judgment. Eagle Refinery Co, Inc. v. Associated International Insurance (2001) 85 Cal. App. 4” 1200, 1315. Even if Plaintiff's declaration is ruled to be admissible, in reliance upon the alleged facts therein, Mr. Ay concludes without any evidence that the subject products that plaintiff alleges to have been exposed to contained asbestos. This is pure speculation, conclusory and is not “evidence.” Hayman, supra, 176 Cal. App. 3d 629, 638-639 Plaintiff and, hence, Mr. Ay have absolutely no idea what manufacturer or brand of said materials were present at Shell Oil and/or Exxon Refinery. He is outright guessing. Therefore, it is impossible to opine that the subject materials contained asbestos. As stated above, Mr. Ay is relying on Plaintiff's own declaration in order to formulate his opinions. Nowhere in plaintiff's declaration does he profess to know the brand name or the manufacturer of the products at issue. (See Declaration of Plaintiff attached to Plaintiff's Opposition as Exhibit “B.”) 10 REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONMr. Ay declares that he has “worked with and have knowledge of both asbestos- containing and non-asbestos gaskets and pipe insulation constructions materials available and used in the 1970’s, the relevant time frame. (Emphasis added) (See Declaration of Charles Ay at paragraphs 30 and 33 attached as Exhibit “D,” to plaintiff's Opposition to Summary Judgment.) These paragraphs alone establishes that Mr. Ay cannot say with any certainty whatsoever that the unidentified gasket and pipe insulation materials that plaintiff alleges to have been. exposed to by Albay in his own declaration contained asbestos. Any opinion that they did contain asbestos made by Mr. Ay is fraught with gross speculation, lacks any nexus between the product and asbestos content and is conclusory. Based upon Mr. Ay’s own “expert” testimony, it is clear to see that it is impossible for him to discern the chemical makeup of the subject materials since he did not know if it was the non asbestos containing type or the asbestos containing type, both of which he admits existed in the relevant time period. He doesn’t even know the brand names or who they were made by so Mr. Ay’s baseless conclusions that plaintiff was exposed to asbestos as a result of the subject materials is utter speculation and purely conclusory. Tt is insufficient to create an issue of material fact worthy of jury consideration. Tt would be akin to asking a jury to flip a coin in order to determine if the gasket and pipe insulation materials that Plaintiff identified in his own declaration contained asbestos or not. For the foregoing reasons, Albay respectfully objects to the Declaration of Charles Ay as lacking foundation, based upon speculation and requests that this Court rule it as inadmissible and not consider it for the purposes of this motion. 3, Deposition Testimony of GW Lamphiaer is Inadmissible Against Albay. The deposition testimony of GW Lamphiaer offered by plaintiff in support of this opposition to Albay’s summary judgment motion is inadmissible hearsay. Furthermore, it was not taken in this matter or any matter in which Albay was a party at interest. Therefore, Albay had no opportunity to cross-examine the witness regarding his allegations as they relate to Albay. Wt. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, it is clear that: (1) Albay has properly shifted the burden to plaintiff to show that a triable issue of material fact exists; (2) Plaintiff's self-serving declaration il REPLY TO PLAINTIEIS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONoO Oe NR DR WA BB BN RP oR w PRP RP NM KR NR NY SF FP EF SF RBRRPRPBBRB SB RWRGBEBH SS is inadmissible and does not create an issue of fact regardless; (3) Charles Ay’s declaration is lacking in foundation, conclusory and speculative; (4) GW Lamphiaer’s depositon testimony is inadmissible against Albay; (5) Plaintiff has not established that any of the materials he allege to have been exposed to as a result of Albay contained asbestos and he respired it; and (6) Albay has proved that they did not cause Plaintiff any injury or damage ever. In light of these facts, plaintiff cannot prove the element of causation essential to his complaint against Albay and summary judgment must be granted as a matter of law Dated: October 5, 2011 ARCHER Jasun C. Molinelli Attorneys for Defendant ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ALB184/1234065-1 12 REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS” OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATIONPROOF OF SERVICE | Name of Action; Charles Husband y. Asbestos Defendants Court and Action No: San Francisco Superior Court Action No. CGC-09-275098 1, the undersigned, declare that I am over the age of eighteen years and not a party to this action or proceeding. My business address is 2033 North Main Street, Suite 800, Walnut Creek, California 94596-3759. On October 7, 201 1, I caused the following document(s) to be served: REPLY TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, SUMMARY ADJUDICATION oO by placing a trus copy of the document(s) listed above, enclosed in a sealed envelope, addressed as set forth below, for collection and mailing on the date and at the business address shown above following our ordinary business practices. | am readily familiar with this business’ practice for collection and processing of correspondence for mailing with the United States Postal Service. On the same day that a sealed envelope is placed for collection and mailing, it is deposited in the ordinary course of business with the United States Postal Service with postage fully prepaid. oO by having a true copy of the document(s) listed above transmitted by facsimile to the person(s) at the facsimile number(s) set forth below before 5:00 p.m, The transmission was reported as complete without error by a report issued by the transmitting facsimile machine. . oO by having personally delivered a true copy of the document(s) listed above, enclosed ina sealed envelope, to the person(s) and at the address(es) set forth below. oO by having personal delivery by of a true copy of the document(s) listed above, enclosed ina sealed envelope, to the person(s) and at the address(es) set forth below. i I electronically served the above referenced document(s) through LEXIS NEXIS. E- service in this action was completed on all parties listed on the service list with LEXIS NEXIS. This service complies with the court’s order in this case. 1 declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct, Executed on October 7, 2011, at Walnut Creek, California, Rakia Grant-Smith 13 REPLY TO PLAINTIFES’ OPPOSITION TO ALBAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE SUMMARY ADJUDICATION