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  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
  • LAURANCE HAGEN VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA ASBESTOS document preview
						
                                

Preview

a A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Douglas G. Wah, Esq. SBN 64692 Kristi L.K, Okumoto, Esq. SBN 247404 ELECTRONICALLY Foley & Mansfield P.L.L.P. 300 Lakeside Drive, 19" Floor sopekr IL ED. Oakland, CA 94612 County of San Francisco Telephone: (510) 590-9500 OCT 13 2010 Facsimile: (510) 590-9595 Clerk of the Court BY: CHRISTLE ARRIOLA Attorneys for Defendant Deputy Clerk VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC, SUPERTOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LAURANCE HAGEN, Case No. CGC-10-275582 Plaintiff, “Asbestos-Related Case” ANSWER OF DEFENDANT VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC. TO PLAINTIFF’S. COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY AND REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL - ASBESTOS VS. ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF CALIFORNIA, et al. Defendants. eee Defendant VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC. ("Defendant"), in answer to the complaint of Plaintiff, LAURANCE HAGEN (“Plaintiff”) 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 Plaintiff's unverified complaint, and further denies that Plaintiff has 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 Plaintiff's complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against Defendant. Lif iit I ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff has 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 Plaintiff s claim is 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 Plaintiff has 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 Plaintiff was careless and negligent in and about the matters alleged in the complaint and said carelessness and negligence of Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff failed to mitigate his alleged damages, if any there were. Wt 2 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that if Plaintiff was 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 Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff suffered any damages, which is denied, such damages were caused and/or contributed to by Plaintiff's misuse of the product or products and Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff is barred as a consequence of the exercise of those sovereign powers. THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that any product or products alleged by Plaintiff to have caused his injuries were 3 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 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 Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff's claim against Defendant is barred by the holding of Privette v. Superior Court (1993) 5 Cal.4th 689. SEVENTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff s 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 Plaintiff's alleged injuries. 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. iit it 4 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 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 Plaintiff's complaint, Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff's complaint, Defendant is, therefore, entitled to set-off any such benefits received by Plaintiff against any judgment rendered in Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff voluntarily and knowingly assumed the alleged risks and hazards incident to the alleged operations, acts and conduct at the times and places alleged in Plaintiff's complaint and that Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff's complaint, Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff's injuries, if any there were. 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. Plaintiff 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 a ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 such alleged liability and responsibility being denied. TWENTY-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 Plaintiff, against any judgment rendered against it in Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff's 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. 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 Plaintiff to an award of punitive damages against Defendant. Wt 6 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 TWENTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff's instant action is barred or, alternatively, merged into a prior cause of action for which Plaintiff has 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 Plaintiff's 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 Plaintiff is barred by consequence of the judicially recognized doctrine of immunity conferred upon that contractual relationship and any occurrences arising therefrom. 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- 7 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 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 Plaintiff bases his 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 Plaintiff allegedly caused the alleged injuries and damages. Defendant may not be held liable to Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff 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, 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 Plaintiff 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, Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff was proximately caused by a superseding, intervening cause. iit it 8 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 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 Plaintiff. THIRTY-NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that the Plaintiff is 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 Plaintiff’s claims arise out of contract, Plaintiff’s claims do not state facts sufficient to entitle Plaintiff to an award of punitive or exemplary damages against Defendant. FORTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff, at all times mentioned, was not in privity of contract with Defendant, and that said lack of privity bars any recovery by Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff 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 Plaintiff's entire complaint, is barred by the Statute of Frauds to the extent that any such causes of action are based on alleged oral agreements. 9 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 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 1 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-SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 1 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. FORTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 1 AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff lacks standing to sue Defendant. FORTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 1 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 Plaintiff's 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. iit it 10 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 FIFTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE AS A SEPARATE AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO EACH CAUSE OF ACTION, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff has improperly split his 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 Plaintiff's complaint, Plaintiff knew or should have known about the hazards of asbestos containing products, and therefore Plaintiff was a sophisticated user of asbestos-containing products within the meaning of William Johnson v. American Standard, Inc. (2008) 74 Cal.Rptr.3d 108. 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 Plaintiff's 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 vy. 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, Ine. (1978) 88 Cal. App. 3d 642, 644; Barton v. Owen (1977) 71 Cal. App. 3d 484, 498; Silverhart v. Mount Zion Hospital (1971) 20 I ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOS1 a A nA & &Y Ce ow 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Cal. App, 3d 1022, 1027. WHEREFORE, Defendant prays for judgment as follows: e Re NR mn an _ That Plaintiff takes nothing by reason of their complaint herein; That judgment be entered in favor of Defendant, For costs of suit incurred herein; For appropriate credits and set-offs arising out of any payment of Workers’ Compensation benefits as alleged above; For a judicial determination of the amount of non-economic damages, if any, allocated to Defendant in direct proportion VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC.’S percentage of fault, if any, and a separate judgment in conformance therewith; and For appropriate credits and set-offs arising from allocation of liability to other named and unnamed tort feasors; and For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. VI. NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 631 VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC. hereby gives Notice Of Its Request For Trial By Jury. Dated: October 13, 2010 FOLEY & MANSFIELD, P.L.L.P. BY Douglas G.“Wah Kristi L.K. Okumoto Attorneys for Defendant VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC. 12 ANSWER OF VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL. INC. TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSa Ae YB Dm Se se se = Be Be Se IY A A RB WB YM = SF FC we A 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Laurance Hagen vs. Associated Insulation of California, et al. San Francisco County Superior Case No.: CGC-10-275582 Our Client: Van-Mulder Sheet Metal. Inc. PROOF OF SERVICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION I, the undersigned, declare as follows: 1am 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 1111 Broadway, 10th Floor, Oakland, California, 94607. On the date executed below, I electronically served the documents(s) via LexisNexis File & Serve described as: ANSWER OF DEFENDANT VAN-MULDER SHEET METAL, INC, TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY AND REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL - ASBESTOS on the recipients designated on the Transaction Receipt located on the LexisNexis File& Serve website. 1 declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and cgrrect and that this declaration was executed on October 13, 2010, at Oakland, California. TAMMY LEE 13 Prool of Service