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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
						
                                

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JENNIFER JUDIN (SBN 256973) ijudin@dehav.com ERIC D. SENTLINGER (SBN 215380) ELECTRONICALLY esentlinger@dehay.com FIL E D OETA & ELLIST eee Superior Court of California, Oaklan tC eG County of San Francisco Telephone: (510) 285-0750 NOV 08 2010 Facsimile: (510) 285-0740 Clerk of the Court BY: WILLIAM TRUPEK Deputy Clerk Attorneys for Defendants KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., and HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LAURANCE HAGEN, CASE NO.: CGC-10-275582 Plaintiff, DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC. AND HANSON v. PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ASSOCIATED INSULATION OF ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR CALIFORNIA; Defendants as Reflected on PERSONAL INJURY — ASBESTOS; Exhibit 1 attached to the Summary Complaint, | JURY TRIAL DEMANDED and DOES 1-8500, et al. Defendants. COMES NOW defendants KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC ., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION (hereinafter referred to as “DEFENDANTS?”) for itself alone, and in answer to the unverified Complaint of Plaintiff herein, as amended, now or in the future, or otherwise, admit, deny, and allege as follows: Pursuant to the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure § 431.30, these answering DEFENDANTS deny each, every and all of the allegations of the unverified complaint, and each and every cause of action contained therein, and the whole thereof, and deny DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSthat Plaintiff has sustained damages in the sum or sums alleged, in any other sum or sums whatsoever, or at all. FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 1. The Complaint and each and every cause of action alleged therein fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against these answering DEFENDANTS, and fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 2. The Complaint and every cause of action alleged therein is/are barred by California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 335, 338(1), 338(4), 339(1), 340(3), 340.2, 343, 353, by Commercial Code § 2725, and by all other applicable statute of limitations provisions, and Plaintiff is thereby precluded from recovering the damages and other relief sought in the Complaint. THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, 3. The applicable laws, rules, statutes or regulations, including but not limited to, Code of Civil Procedure §§ 340(3) and 340.2, and sister state statutes of limitations and statutes of repose borrowed by Code of Civil Procedure 361, requiring the institution of suit within a certain period of time following its accrual, were not complied with, and, therefore, Plaintiff's claims are barred as a matter of law and equity. FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 4. Plaintiff unreasonably delayed in bringing this action, without good cause, and has thereby prejudiced the rights of these answering DEFENDANTS. The Complaint and all claims alleged therein are therefore barred by the doctrine of laches. FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 5. Plaintiff has waived any and all claims which he/she seeks to assert in this action, and/or are estopped by his/her conduct from asserting or recovering on such claims. fil fil fil De DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSeI DH A FB WY WY Oo 10 i 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2 3 24 25 26 27 28 SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 6. Prior to the filing of this action, Plaintiff fully, completely and unequivocally settled and compromised his/her claims for relief against these answering DEFENDANTS. SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 7. At all times and places mentioned in the Complaint, as amended, now or in the future, Plaintiff was negligent and careless and failed io exercise that degree of care and caution for his own safety which a reasonably prudent person would have used ‘under the same or similar circumstances, in that, among other things, Plaintiff so negligently and carelessly stationed, conducted and maintained him/herself, failed to utilize safety devices and other equipment or facilities supplied to them and/or existing as part of their environment, and failed to observe open and obvious conditions, so as to directly and proximately cause and contribute to Plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any. Plaintiff is therefore precluded from obtaining any recovery against these answering DEFENDANTS. Alternatively, any negligence or other legal fault attributable to Plaintiff thereby comparatively reduces the percentage of negligence or fault, if any, attributable to these answering DEFENDANTS, which these answering DEFENDANTS expressly deny. EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 8. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that no act, omission, conduct or product attributable io it caused or contributed to any injuries or damages sustained by Plaintiff, if any, and that if Plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any, were not solely caused by Plaintiff's own acts, omissions and other conduct then said injuries and damages were proximately caused and contributed to by the negligence and/or other tortious acts, omissions, conduct and products of persons or entities other than these answering DEFENDANTS, and that said negligence and/or other legal fault was an intervening and superseding cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any. Any damages recoverable by Plaintiff must therefore be diminished in proportion to the amount of fault attributable to these other persons and entities, and there should be an apportionment of the harm and damage claimed by Plaintiff, if any. ‘it Mt -3- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSoD em ID AW KR He De _ noe Bw I Hw NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 9, That at all times and places referred to in the Complaint, as amended, now or in the future, Plaintiff was, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been, aware of all circumstances and conditions then and there existing and prevailing, but nonetheless knowingly, voluntarily, and in full appreciation of the potential consequences thereof, exposed him/herself to whatever risks and dangers may have been attendant to such circumstances and conditions, thereby freely and voluntarily assuming any and all risk(s) incident thereto, and thereby barring Plaintiff from recovery herein. TENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 10. At all times and places relevant to this action, Plaintiff failed to make reasonable efforts to mitigate his injuries, loss and/or damages, if any. ELEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE i. At all times material to this action, Plaintiff failed to use the products alleged in the complaint in a foreseeable, proper and safe manner which would have otherwise been anticipated and expected of an ordinary user. Such misuse of the products described in the Complaint by Plaintiff was the sole, proximate and legal cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any, thereby barring Plaintiff from recovery herein. TWELFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 12. At all times material to this action, the products described in the Complaint which allegedly injured Plaintiff was, without these answering DEFENDANTS’ knowledge, approval or consent, and contrary to instructions and/or the custom and practice in the industry, altered, re- designed, modified, or subjected to other treatment which substantially changed their character, such that they were not being used, functioning and/or performing in a manner intended by their manufacturer, and/or were not in substantially the same or similar condition as when they left the manufacturer’s possessions. If there was a defect in said products, which supposition is specifically denied by these answering DEFENDANTS, such defect resulted solely from such alteration, re-design, modification, treatment or other change therein, and not from any act or Hit 4- “DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY. INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC,, fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSomission by these answering DEFENDANTS, thereby barring Plaintiff from recovery herein as against these answering DEFENDANTS. THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 13. Plaintiff is barred from recovery herein in that any and all products allegedly supplied or distributed by these answering DEFENDANTS were manufactured and/or produced in conformity with specifications established and provided by the United States Government pursuant to its War powers as set forth in the United States constitution, and that any defect in said products was caused by deficiencies in said specifications, and not by any action or conduct on the part of these answering DEFENDANTS. FOURTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 14. Plaintiff is barred from recovery herein in that all products allegedly manufactured or distributed by these answering DEFENDANTS were in conformity with the existing state of the medical, scientific, and industrial knowledge, art, and practices and, as a result, said products were not defective in any manner. FIFTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 15. At all times and places mentioned in the Complaint, as amended, now or in the future, Plaintiff was not in privity of contract with these answering DEFENDANTS, and said lack of privity bars Plaintiffs recovery herein upon any theory of warranty. SIXTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 16. Plaintiff failed to give these answering DEFENDANTS timely and reasonable notice of any alleged breach of contract or warranty, thereby barring Plaintiff from recovery herein. SEVENTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 17. At all times and places relevant to this action, Plaintiff waived whatever right he/she might otherwise have had to claim a breach of warranty, in that Plaintiff failed to notify these answering DEFENDANTS of any alleged breach of warranty, express or implied, and if any alleged defects existed in any product(s) manufactured or distributed by these answering Hi “Se DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSoD em MN DH BF YW NY DEFENDANTS, Plaintiff discovered or should have discovered said defect or non-conformity, if any existed, and failure to do so within a reasonable period of time prejudices these answering DEFENDANTS from being able to fully investigate and defend the allegations made against it in the Complaint, as amended now or in the future. EIGHTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 18. Plaintiff's breach of warranty claims are barred by written disclaimers and /or exclusions contained on or in the labels or packaging of the products at issue in this action. NINETEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 19. ‘The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and each and every cause of action contained therein, fails to state facts sufficient to constitute “fraud,” “oppression,” or “malice,” as these terms are used in Civil Code § 3294, and therefore fails to a cause of action for punitive damages. TWENTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 20. The imposition of punitive/exemplary damages against these corporate DEFENDANTS for acts of a former and/or predecessor corporate entity would be a violation of due process of law, and against public policy, under the various laws of the State of California and the United States. TWENTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 21. . These answering DEFENDANTS allege that California Civil Code § 3294 violates the Due Process and/or Equal Protection clauses of the California and/or United States Constitutions, is void because it is vague and ambiguous, constitutes an undue burden on interstate commerce, and violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, Plaintiff is barred from any recovery thereunder. TWENTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 22. The liability of these answering DEFENDANTS, if any, shall be apportioned in accordance with the provisions of Civil Code §§ 1431, et seg., commonly known as the Fair Responsibility Act of 1986. fit b= DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a. KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSSo OD wm IR DH TWENTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 23. These answering DEFENDANTS allege on information and belief that at all times and places relevant to this action, Plaintiff was an employee of an employer or employers whose names are presently unknown, and that any injuries or damages alleged in the Complaint, as amended now or in the future, occurred while Plaintiff was acting within.the course of scope of such employment. These answering DEFENDANTS further allege on information and belief that Plaintiff's employer or employers provided Plaintiff with certain benefits in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Workers’ Compensation laws of the State of California. The nature and extent of such Workers’ Compensation benefits that may have been provided is unknown, but when said benefits are determined, leave to amend this Answer and to set forth the details of said benefits will be sought. It is further alleged that any and all injuries or damages complained of by Plaintiff were solely and proximately caused by, or resulted from, the negligence and carelessness of Plaintiff's employer, his co-workers, and/or his employer’s agents, servants or employees. Therefore, these answering DEFENDANTS are entitled to an offset of any such benefits received or to be received by Plaintiff against any judgment which may be rendered in favor of said Plaintiff, pursuant to the doctrine of Witt v. Jackson (1961) 57 Cal.2d 57. TWENTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 24. Plaintiff is barred from recovery herein if, at any time, past or present, Plaintiff was or is an employee of these answering DEFENDANTS, including any of these answering DEFENDANTS’ divisions or subsidiaries, thereby creating conditions of compensation. The right to recover Workers’ Compensation benefits is Plaintiff's sole and exclusive remedy as against these answering DEFENDANTS, pursuant to the provisions of California Labor Code §§3300, et seq., and/or §§3600, et seq. These answering DEFENDANTS are entitled to a judicial determination of any such employer-employee relationship establishing such exclusive remedy and bar to recovery prior any hearing or trial on the merits in this matter. TWENTY -FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 25. Even if Plaintiff was exposed to any asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by these answering DEFENDANTS, which supposition is expressly denied, ~J~ DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSNu Plaintiff's exposure to said products would have been so minimal as to be insufficient to constitute a “substantial contributing factor” in the causation of Plaintiff's alleged injuries or disease, if any. TWENTY -SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 26. These answering DEFENDANTS are not liable for any alleged failure to warn of any risks, dangers or hazards in the use of any asbestos-containing products or other goods that it allegedly distributed, sold, supplied or delivered to Plaintiff's employer(s), because said employer(s) had as great, if not greater, knowledge about the nature of any risks, dangers or hazards than did these answering DEFENDANTS, and, unlike these answering DEFENDANTS, said employer(s) were in a position to warn persons exposed to such products of any such risks, dangers or hazards. TWENTY -SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 27. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that at all times relevant to the matters alleged in the Complaint, as amended now or in the future, all of Plaintiff’s employers, other than these answering DEFENDANTS, were sophisticated and knowledgeable users of asbestos products and said employers’ negligence in providing said product(s) to their employees in a negligent, careless and reckless manner was a superseding cause of Plaintiffs injuries, if any. TWENTY -EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 28. To the extent the Complaint, or any cause of action alleged therein, is based upon an allegation of strict products liability as against these answering DEFENDANTS, said cause of action cannot be maintained as these answering DEFENDANTS were not a “seller” within the meaning of § 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts, and consequently any claim of strict liability against these answering DEFENDANTS is barred pursuant to Monte Vista Development Corporation vs. Superior Court (1991) 226 Cal.App.3d 1681. TWENTY -NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 29. These answering DEFENDANTS deny that it was a successor, successor in business, successor in product line or a portion thereof, assign, predecessor, predecessor in iff -8- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSaD WwW business, predecessor in product line or a portion thereof, parent, alter-ego subsidiary, wholly or partially owned by, or the while or partial owner of or member in any entity owning property, maintaining premises, researching, studying, manufacturing, fabricating, designing, labeling, assembling, distributing, leasing, buying, offering for sale, selling, inspecting, servicing, installing, contracting for installation, repairing, marketing, warranting, re-branding, manufacturing for others, packaging and advertising any asbestos/silica products. These answering DEFENDANTS are therefore not liable for any acts, whether they be active or passive, or omissions of any entities to which these answering DEFENDANTS are or may be alleged to be a successor-in-interest, predecessor-in-interest, alter ego, or the like. THIRTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 30. These answering DEFENDANTS did not and do not have a substantial percentage of the market for any asbestos-containing products which allegedly caused the injuries and damages claimed by Plaintiff. Furthermore, the asbestos-containing products which allegedly caused the injuries and damages claimed by Plaintiff are not “fungible” in nature. As such, these answering DEFENDANTS may not be held liable to Plaintiff based upon any “market-share” or “enterprise” theories of liability. THIRTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 31. Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 430.10(c), there is another action pending between the same parties on the same causes of action. THIRTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 32. The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and any and all claims and. causes of action alleged therein, are preempted by the Locomotive Boiler Inspection Act, 49 US.CS. §§ 20701, et seg., the Federal Safety Appliances Act, 49 U.S.C. § 20301, ef seg., and all other applicable federal statutes, laws or regulations. THIRTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 33. The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and any and all claims and causes of action alleged therein, is/are barred by the rule against splitting a cause of action. Mtl ~9- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY ~ ASBESTOSTHIRTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 34, The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and any and all claims and causes of action alleged therein, is/are barred by Plaintiff's failure to timely join one or more parties that are indispensable and/or necessary to a resolution of the matters alleged in the Complaint, as required by Code of Civil Procedure § 389. THIRTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 35. The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and any and all claims and causes of action alleged therein, is/are barred pursuant to the doctrines of res judicata and/or collateral estoppel. THIRTY-SIX AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 36. The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and any and all claims and causes of action alleged therein, is/are barred because there is a defect and misjoinder of parties plaintiff and/or defendant. THIRTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 37. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that at all times relevant to the matters alleged in the Complaint, as amended now or in the future, Plaintiff(s) knew or should have known of the inherent hazards, risks or potential dangers of the product(s) alleged to be at issue, and was therefore a sophisticated and knowledgeable user of each such product. As such, these answering DEFENDANTS are not liable to Plaintiff for any alleged failure to warn of such hazards, risks or dangers. THIRTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 38. The Complaint, as amended now or in the future, and any and all claims and causes of action alleged therein, is/are barred by the “sophisticated user” and/or “sophisticated intermediary” doctrine pursuant to Johnson v. American Standard (2008) 43 Cal.4™ 56. THIRTY-NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 39. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that the instant action is barred or, alternatively, was merged into a prior cause of action for which Decedent and/or Plaintiff has it} -10- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fk/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSpreviously 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. FORTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 40. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that this Court lacks jurisdiction over this action. , FORTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 41, These answering DEFENDANTS allege that the damages alleged by Plaintiff, if any, were caused, either in whole or in part, by persons, firms or entities other than DEFENDANTS and over which DEFENDANTS had neither control nor the right of control. FORTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 42. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that if it is determined to be liable to Plaintiff, such liability is based on conduct which is passive and secondary to the active and primary wrongful conduct of the other defendants to this action. These answering DEFENDANTS ate, therefore, entitled to total, equitable indemnity from such other defendants. FORTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 43. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that Plaintiff lacks standing to sue DEFENDANTS. FORTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 44. These answering DEFENDANTS allege that if it has purportedly been named or served in this action as a Doe Defendant, such effort by Plaintiff is invalid on the ground that Plaintiff knew or should have known of the identity of these answering DEFENDANTS and the alleged caused of action against these answering DEFENDANTS at the time of the filing of the complaint. FORTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 45. These answering DEFENDANTS allege 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. DEFENDANTS reserve the right to assert additional defenses in the event that they would be appropriate. -1l- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC,, f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOS= CS em NIN DHA BF WN 10 FORTY-SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 46. This action should be dismissed or transferred to another court pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens, or because of improper venue in this court. FORTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 47. Plaintiff is not the real party in interest to pursue all or a portion of the claims made in the Complaint for Damages and therefore is barred from suing these DEFENDANTS. FORTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 48. Whatever damages Plaintiff may have suffered, if any, were the sole and proximate result of an unavoidable accident. FORTY-NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 49. DEFENDANTS allege that Plaintiff's tobacco use is an assumption of a known risk, and that said conduct of Plaintiff proximately caused and contributed to Plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any, and therefore the recovery of Plaintiff, if any, is barred or proportionately reduced, FIFTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 50. DEFENDANTS allege that consumption of tobacco products is negligent per se because it is inherently unsafe and consumed with the ordinary community knowledge of its danger. Thus, the said negligence of Plaintiff in consuming tobacco products proximately caused and contributed to Plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any, and therefore, Plaintiffs recovery, if any, is barred or proportionately reduced. FIFTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 51. DEFENDANTS expressly deny that Plaintiff inhaled injurious quantities of asbestos fibers from products for which DEFENDANTS are liable. Any products for which DEFENDANTS might be held legally accountable and which Plaintiff allegedly used or was exposed to, if any, were not in the same condition as when sold, having been materially altered after the sale and prior to the use or exposure as alleged. ‘tl Mt ~12- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSWDM BF WN FIFTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 52. If it is proven at the time of trial that products for which DEFENDANTS are responsible were manufactured, furnished, distributed, supplied and/or sold as alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint, and if said products were used in the fashion alleged, all of which is specifically denied except as otherwise set forth above, then any such product was so manufactured, furnished, distributed, supplied and/or sold in conformity with the prevailing state- of-medical-art and the prevailing standards of the industry. DEFENDANTS’ conduct, and any product for which it bears responsibility, was at all times in conformity with the prevailing standard of medical science and the prevailing standards of the industry. The state of the medical, scientific and industrial knowledge, art and practice was at all material times such that DEFENDANTS neither breached any duty owed to the Plaintiff, nor knew or could have known, that the products for which it bears responsibility presented a foreseeable risk of harm to the Plaintiff in connection with asbestos exposure form the normal and expected use of such products. FIFTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 53. If itis proven at the time of trial that products for which DEFENDANTS are responsible were manufactured, furnished, distributed, supplied and/or sold as alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint, and if said products were used in the fashion alleged, all of which is specifically denied except as otherwise set forth above, then any harm to Plaintiff which may have been caused by Plaintiff's exposure to such products was caused after the expiration of the useful safe lives of such products, for which DEFENDANTS are not subject to liability. FIFTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 54. The imposition of punitive damages constitutes a denial of due process and equal protection of the laws in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, and comparable provisions of the California Constitution. FIFTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 55, DEFENDANTS incorporate by reference any additional defenses interposed by any other defendants herein to the extent such defenses are applicable to it. ~]3- DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSRESERVATION OF RIGHTS These answering INEFENDANTS hereby reserve the right, upon completion of its investigation and discovery, to amend this Answer to include such additional defenses as may be appropriate. WHEREFORE, DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., and HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION pray as follows: 1. That Plaintiff takes nothing by reason of the operative Complaint on file herein; 2. That DEFENDANTS be awarded its costs and expenses of suit incurred herein; 3. That if DEFENDANTS are found liable, that the degree of responsibility and liability for the resulting damages be determined and apportioned in accordance with California Civil Code §§ 1431, et seq.; and 4, For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL COMES NOW, DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., and HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION and hereby demand a trial by jury in the above-entitled action and estimate that the length of trial will be six to eight weeks in duration. DATED: November 8, 2010 DEHAY & ELLISTON, LLP By: — JENNIFER JUDIN | ERIC D. SENTLINGER Attorneys for Defendants KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC. and HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION “14. DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC., AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., fik/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY - ASBESTOSoC Dm NY DA A BF WwW DP A FF WY ON PROOF OF SERVICE Laurance Hagen y. Associated Insulation Of California, et al. San Francisco County Superior Court Case Number: CGC-10-275582 I, MARY K. BARLE, declare: 1am a citizen of the United States and employed in Alameda County, California. | am over the age of eighteen years and not a party to the within-entitled action. My business address is 1300 Clay Street, Suite 840, Oakland, California 94612. On the date shown below, I served a copy of the within document(s): DEFENDANTS KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC, AND HANSON PERMANENTE CEMENT, INC., f/k/a KAISER CEMENT CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR PERSONAL INJURY — ASBESTOS; JURY TRIAL DEMANDED BJ By electronically transmitting the document(s) listed above to LexisNexis File and Serve, an electronic filing service provider, at www. fileandserve.lexisnexis.com pursuant to the Court’s June 1, 2007 Order mandating electronic service. See Cal. R. Ct. R. 2053, 2055, 2060, The transmission was reported as complete and without error. TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES TO THIS ACTION DESIGNATED ON THE TRANSACTION RECEIPT LOCATED ON THE LEXIS NEXIS FILE & SERVE WEBSITE. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the above is true and correct. Executed on November 8, 2010, at Oakland, California. MARY K. EARLE PROOF OF SERVICE