arrow left
arrow right
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
  • JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) ASBESTOS document preview
						
                                

Preview

UA San Francisco Superior Courts Information Technology Group Document Scanning Lead Sheet Apr-23-2002 8:36 am Case Number: CGC-01-402113 Filing Date: Apr-22-2002 8:32 Juke Box: 001 Image: 00404698 ANSWER JAMES JORDAN VS. ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC) 001000404698 Instructions: Please place this sheet on top of the document to be scanned. NY OHN R. WALLACE, ESQ. (State Bar No. 85709) LED A RTER RICHARD D. DUMONT, }Q. Graze Bar No. 107967) ayy af [ACKSON & WALLACE LLP C 55 FRANCISCO STREET, 6TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133 22 Ph Telephone; (41 5) 982-6300 Facsimile: 415) 982-6700 A eS Attorneys for Defendant THE BUDD COMPANY Whe JN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO COURT OF UNLIMITED JURISDICTION 10 W JAMES JORDAN, No, 402113 12 Plaintiff, ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BO BD COMPANY 70) Pp LAINTIFP’S 13 v, INT 4 ASBESTOS DEFENDANTS (BHC), et al., 1$ Defendants. 16 7 18 DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY (hereinafter ‘DEFENDANT”) answers the 19 unverified Complaint herein on its own behalf and on behalf of no other defendant or entity as 20 follows: 21 Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 431.30(d), DEFENDANT denies 22 generally each and every allegation of the Complaint. 23 EIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 24 Neither the Complaint nor any purported cause of action alleged by plaintiff therein 25 states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against DEFENDANT. 26 SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 27 Yo the extent the Complaint asserts DEFENDANT’s alleged “market share” Liability, 28 or “enterprise liability,” the Complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action 1 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY —_ against DEFENDANT. THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Neither the Complaint nor any purported cause of action alleged therein states faces sufficient to entitle plaintiff to an award of punitive damages against DEFENDANT. FOI A FENSE The imposition of any punitive damages in this matter would deprive DEFENDANT ofits propetty without due process of law under the California Constitution and United States Constitution. FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 10 The imposition of any punitive damages in this matter would violate the United States i Coanstitution’s prohibition against laws impairing the obligation of contracts. 1 SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 13 ‘The imposition of any punitive damages in this matter would constitute a criminal fine or 14 penalty and should, therefore, be remitted on the ground that the award violates the United 15 States Constitution. 16 PFIRMA ISE 7 Plaintiff's action, and each alleged cause of action, is barred by the applicable statute of 18 limitations, inchiding but not limited to California Code of Civil Procedure, sections 338(1), Ww 338(4), 339(1), 340(1), 340(3), 340.2, 343 and 353 and California Commercial Code, section 2725. 20 EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 2 Plaintiff unreasonably delayed in bringing this action, without good cause therefore, and 22 thereby has prejudiced DEFENDANT as a direct and proximate result of such delay; 23 accordingly, his action is barred by laches and by section 583 et seq. of the Code of Civil 24 Procedure, 25 NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 26 Plaintiff was negligent in and about the matters alleged in the Complaint and in each 27 alleged cause of action; this negligence proximately caused, in whole or in part, the damages 28 alleged in the Complaint. In the event plaintiff is entitled to any damages, the amount of these 2 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY eee an we damages should be reduced by the comparative fault of plaintiff and any persan whose negligent acts or omissions are imputed to plaintiff. IRMA TIVE DEFENSE Plaintiff knowingly, voluntarily and unreasonably undertook to encounter each of the tisks and hazards, if any, referred to in the Complaint and each alleged cause of action, and this undertaking proximately caused and contributed to any loss, injury or damages incurred by plaintiff. ELEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Any loss, injury or damage incurred by plaintiff was proximately caused by the negligent 10 or willful acts or omissions of parties whom DEFENDANT neither controlled nor bad the right 1 to control, and was not proximately caused by any acts, omissions or other conduct of 12 DEFENDANT. 13 TWELFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 14 The products referred to in the Complaint were misused, abused or altered by plaintiff WS or by others; the misuse, abuse or alteration was not reasonably foreseeable to DEFENDANT, 16 and proximately caused any loss, injury or damages incurred by plaintiff. 7 THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 18 DEFENDANT alleges that its products were manufactured, produced, supplied, sold and 19 distributed in mandatory conformity with specifications promulgated by the United States 20 Government under its war powers, as set forth in the United States Constitution, and that any 21 recovery by plaintiff on the Complaint on file herein is barred in consequence of the exercise 22 of those sovereign powers. 23 FOURTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 24 Plaintiff failed to exercise due diligence to mitigate his loss, injury or damages; 25 accordingly, the amount of damages to which plaintiff are entitled, if any, should be reduced by 26 the amount of damages which would have otherwise been mitigated. 27 FIFTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 28 The Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the matters alleged in the Complaint 3 ANSWEROF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY CC ~ Ne because the Complaint and each alleged cause of action against DEFENDANT are barred by the provisions of California Labor Code, section 3600, et seq. & TIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT alleges that at the time of the injuries alleged in the Complaint, plaintiff was employed and was entitled to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits from his employer's workers’ compensation insurance carrier; thar ail of plaintiff's employers, other than DEFENDANT, were negligent in and about the matters referred to in said Complaint, and thar such negligence on the part of said employers proximately and concurrently contributed to the happening of the accident and to the loss or damage complained of by plaintiff, ifany there were; 10 and thar by reason thereof DEFENDANT is entitled to set off and/or reduce any such Workers’ ML Compensation benefits received or to be received by plaintiff against any judgment which may 2 be rendered in favor of plaintiff. (Witt u Jackson, 57 Cal.2d 57, 366 P.2d 641) 13 SEVENTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 4 DEFENDANT alleges thatat che time of the injuries alleged in the Complaint, plaintiff's 15 employers were negligent in and about the matters referred to in said Complaint, and that such 16 negligence on the part of said employers proximately and concurrently contributed to any loss 1? or damage, including non-economic damages, complained of by plaintiff, if any there were; and 18 that DEFENDANT is not liable for said employers’ proportionate share of non-economic 19 damages, 20 EIGHTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE at DEFENDANT alleges that at the time of the injuries alleged in the Complaint, parties 22 other than this DEFENDANT were negligent in and about the matters referred to in said 23 Complaint, and that such negligence on the part of said parties proximately and concurrently 24 contributed to any loss or damage, including non-economic damages, complained af by plaintiff, 25 if any there were; and that DEFENDANT herein shell not be liable for said parties’ 26 proportionate share of non-economic damages. 27 NINETEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 28 DEFENDANT alleges that at all times relative to matters alleged in the Complaint, all 4 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY ee Ne 7 of plaintiffs employers, other than DEFENDANT, were sophisticated users of asbestos-containing products and said employers’ negligence in providing the product to its employees in a negligent, careless and reckless manner was a superseding cause of plaintiff's injuries and damages, if any. TWENTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE If plaintiff has received, or in the future may receive, Worker’s Compensation benefits from DEFENDANT under the Labor Code of the State of California as a consequence of the alleged industrial injury referred to in the Complaint, and in the event plaintiff is awarded damages against DEPENDANT, DEFENDANT claims a credit against this award to the extent 10 that DEFENDANT is barred from enforcing his rights to reimbursement for Worker’s n Compensation benefits that plaintiff has recived or may in the future receive. 12 TWENTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 13 If plaintiff has received, or in the future may receive Worker’s Compensation benefits 14 from DEFENDANT under the Labor Code of the State of California as a consequence of the 15 alleged industrial injury referred to in the Complaint, DEFENDANT demands repayment of 16 any such Worker’s Compensation benefits in the event that plaintiff recovers tort damages as a (7 result of the industrial injury allegedly involved here. Although DEFENDANT denies the 18 validity of plaintiff's claims, in the event those claims are beld valid and not barred by the stature 19 of limitations or otherwise, DEFENDANT asserts that cross-demands for money have existed 20 between plaintiff and DEFENDANT and the demands are compensated, so far as they equal 21 each other, pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 431.70, 22 TWENTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 23 At all times and places in the Complaint, plaintiff was not in privity of contract with 24 DEFENDANT and said lack of privity bars plaintiff's recovery herein upon any theory of 25 warranty. 26 TWENTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 27 Plaintiff is barred from recovery in chat all products produced by DEFENDANT, ifany, 28 were in conformity with the existing state-of-the-art, and as a result, these products were not 5 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY defective in any manner. TWENTY-FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT did nat and does not have a substantial percentage of the market for the asbestos-cantaining products which allegedly caused plaintiff's injuries and damages. Therefore, DEFENDANT may not be held liable to plaintiff based on this DEFENDANT’s alleged percentage share of the applicable market. TWENTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT denies any and all ability to the extent that plaintiff osserts DEFENDANT’s alleged liability as a successor, successor in business, successor in product line 19 or a portion thereof, assign, predecessor, predecessor in business, predecessor in product line or W a portion thereof, parent, alter-ego, subsidiary, wholly or partially owned by, or the whole or 12 partial owner of or member in an entity researching, studying, manufacturing, fabricating, 13 designing, labeling, assembling, distributing, leasing, buying, offering for sale, selling, inspecting, 14 servicing, installing, contracting for installation, repairing, marketing, warranting, rebranding, 15 manufacturing for others, packaging and advertising a certain substance, the generic name of 16 which is asbestos, 17 *. oT ATEIR. 18 DEPENDANT alleges that plaintiff's claims are or may be barred in whole or in part by 19 res judicata, collateral estoppel, issue preclusion and/or release. 20 TWENTY-SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 21 DEFENDANT alleges that it is immune from liability for any alleged failure to warn 22 plaintiff of material risks associated with DEFENDANT’s products because such risks were or 23 should have been obvious to a reasonably prudent product user in plaintiff's position, or were otherwise a matter of common knowledge to persons in the same or similar position to plaintiff. 25 TWENTY: FA NSE 26 ‘This court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the causes of action alleged in the 27 Complaint. 28 Vif 6 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY a TWENTY.NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Asa result of plaintiff's unreasonable delay in bringing this action, without good cause therefore, in addition to his other unreasonable acts and omissions, plaintiff has waived each or some of the claims stated or purportedly stated in the Complaint. THIRTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE The activity alleged in the Complaint, to the extent that it was engaged in by DEFENDANT, if ar all, was not ulerahazardous under California law. THIRTY-FIRST AFEIRMA TIVE DEFENSE California Civil Code sections 1431.1 through 1431.5, known as the Fair Responsibility 10 Act of 1986, is applicable at Least in part to the present action and to certain claims therein, and i based upon the principle of comparative fault, the liability, if any, of DEFENDANT, if liable 12 at all, shall be several only and shall not be joint, DEFENDANT, if liable at all, shall be liable 13 as to certain claims only for the amount of non-economic damages allocated to DEFENDANT 14 in direct propottion ta DEFENDANT’s percentage of fault, if any, and a separate and several Is judgment shall be rendered against DEFENDANT for non-economic damages, if any. 16 THIRT?. SECOND AFFIR/AA TIVE DEFENSE 17 Plaintiff cannot prove any facts showing that the conduct of DEFENDANT was the 18 cause in fact of any alleged injuries or damages suffered by plaintiff as alleged in the Complaint. 19 THIRTY-THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 20 Plaintiff cannot prove any facts showing that the conduct of DEFENDANT was the a1 proximate cause of any alleged injuries or damages suffered by plaintiff as alleged in the 22. Complaint. 23 URTY-PFOURTH AFFIRMA 24 Tf plaintiff was injured as alleged in the Complaint, those injuries were proximately caused 25 by allergies, sensitivities and idiosyncrasies particular to plaintiff, not found in the general public 26 and unknown and unknowable to DEFENDANT. Such injuries, if any, were not reasonably 27 foreseeable to DEFENDANT. 28 “tt 7 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY se me Sa THIRTY-FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Arall times relevant, DEFENDANT’s acts and omissions were in conformity with all government statutes and regulations and all industry standards based upon the state of knowledge existing at the time of the acts or omissions. THIRTY.SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE Plaintiff has failed to join all parties necessary for full and just adjudication of the purported causes of action asserted in the Complaint. THIRTY SEVENTH ALFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT alleges thar plaintiff has directed, ordéred, approved and/or ratified 10 DEFENDANT’s conduct and plaintiff is therefore estopped from asserting his claims alleged in I the Complaint as a result of his own acts, conduct or omissions. 12 THIRTY-EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 13 DEFENDANT alleges that plaintiff's claims are preempted by the Federal Employers 14 Liability Act (45 U.S.C. §§ 51 et seq.) and/or the Locomotive Boiler Inspection Act (49 U.S.C. Is §§ 20701 et seq.) and/or the Safety Appliances Act (49 U.S.C. §§20301 et, seq.), all as recodified 16 by the Federal Rail Safety Act, requiring that an action against the rail employer under the 17 F.E.L.A. is plaintiff's exclusive remedy. 18 EFENSE 19 DEFENDANT refers to and incorporates herein. each and every affirmative defense 20 pleaded by the other parties herein to the extent that such defenses are not inconsistent with the 21 matters stated herein. 22 FORTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DERENSE 23 DEFENDANT alleges that it presently has insufficient knowledge or information on 24 which to form a belief as to whether it may have additional, as yet unasserted defenses available, 25 DEFENDANT reserves herein the right to assert additional defenses in the event discovery 26 indicates that they would be appropriate. 27 ‘WHEREFORE, DEFENDANT prays: 28 (1) That plaintiff take nothing by his Complaint; 8 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY ~~ (2) That Judgment be entered in favor of DEFENDANT; (3) For recovery of DEFENDANT’s costs of suit; (4 For appropriate credits and set-offs arising out of any payment of Workers’ Compensation or other benefits as alleged above; and (5) For such other and further relief az the Court deems just and proper. DATE: April (7, 2002 JACKSON & WALLACE LLP 1 A ek Atromeys for Defendant ge — 10 THE BUDD COMPANY ll 12 13 VAD197\Jondan\Asswesowped 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 aa 24 2s 26 27 28 9 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY woceee Ne James Jordan v. Asbestos Defendants (BHC), et al. S.FS.C, #402113 PROOR OF SERVICE BY MAIL (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1013, 2015.5) STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO I, the undersigned, declare as follows: Tam over 18 years of age and not a party to the within action; my business address is 55 Francisco Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, California 94133; lam employed in San Francisco County, California. Tam readily familiar with my employer's practices for collection and processing of correspondence for mailing with the United States Postal Service. On 10 the date own below, I served a copy, with all exhibits, of the following document(s): iW DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY'S OBJECTION TO STIPULATION OF HEARING BY COMMISSIONER 42 DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY’S DEMAND FOR TRIAL BY JURY 13 AND ESTIMATE OF LENGTH OF TRIAL 14 ANSWER OF DEFENDANT THE BUDD COMPANY TO PLAINTIFF'S UNVERIFIED COMPLAINT 15 on the interested parties in the above-referenced case by y following ordinary business practices and placing for collection and mailin at 55 Francisco Street, San Francisco f 16 on the date shown below, a true copy of the a ove-referenced document(s), enclosed 17 in a sealed envelope; in the ordi ‘course of business, the above document(s) would have been deposited for first-class livery with the United States Postal Service the 18 same day they were placed for deposit, with postage thereon fully prepaid. 19 The foregoing envelope(s) was/were addressed as follows: 20 Bray n & Purcell 222 Rush Landing Road 2t Novato, CA 94948 22 T declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Californ nee th ie foregoing is true and correct and that this declaration was executed on April 23 20 m4 25 Leslie Clough 7 ‘VARI ortaal\PO5-t0siL wp 28