arrow left
arrow right
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
  • MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al ASBESTOS document preview
						
                                

Preview

IAAT San Francisco Superior Courts Information Technology Group Document Scanning Lead Sheet Apr-04-2003 3:03 pm Case Number: CGC-02-414536 Filing Date: Apr-04-2003 3:01 Juke Box: 001 Image: 00656304 ANSWER MARY M WILLIAMS et al VS. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY et al 001000656304 Instructions: Please place this sheet on top of the document to be scanned.rei ATTORNEYS AT LAW Selman : B: CoO QD DH BF WwW YB Yb NR Ye YB Ye NR RN NY Be ew Be Be eB Be ewe eB ew on DH RF YW NH FF SOD eM A DH BRB BH FS ~ ORIGINAL ~ A. SCOTT GOLDBERG (SBN 119797) SELMAN + BREITMAN Lip 11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Sixth Floor Los Angeles, California 90025-6538 San Francisco County Superior Court Telephone: (310) 445-0800 Facsimile: (310) 473-2525 APR 04 2003 Attorneys for Defendant GO j PARK-LI, Clerk. SEPCO CORPORATION BY. d . eputy Clerk pu SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO - COURT OF UNLIMITED JURISDICTION MARY M. WILLIAMS, individually and as ) CASE NO. 414536 successor-in-interest to MELVIN WILLIAMS, ) deceased; and MARY J. WILLIAMS, ) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED individually and as Guardian ad Litem of ) COMPLAINT RAQUEL L. WILLIAMS and JUVON D. WILLIAMS, ) minors; KIMBERLY C. WILLIAMS; and MICHELLE DeLEON, as legal heirs of MELVIN WILLIAMS, deceased, Plaintiffs, Vv. A.W. CHESTERTON COMPANY, etc., et al., Defendants. COMES NOW defendant SEPCO CORPORATION in answer to the first amended complaint on file herein, and answering for responding defendant alone, admits, denies and alleges as follows: 1. Under the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure section 431.30, this answering defendant denies each and every allegation contained in plaintiffs’ unverified first amended complaint, and the whole thereof, and in particular, denies that plaintiffs were injured and damaged in the manner or sum alleged, or in any other manner or sum whatsoever or at all. OntoiNAL — 1631521 154,15849 (Idn) Rh i | ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTreli Selman - B: ATTORNEYS AT LAW 0 ON DH BF ww YE SB NR YP YP YN NH YN Yee Be Be oe Be ee ee eR oyna YN FY NH FE So wH AAA RD HH FS wv VY AND FOR A FIRST, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 2. Plaintiffs are barred from recovery herein by reason of the fact that plaintiffs’ pleading, and each and every cause of action thereof, fails to state, and plaintiffs cannot prove, facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action as against this answering defendant. AND FOR A SECOND, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 3. Plaintiffs’ recovery as to any injury or damage suffered by plaintiffs, if any, shall be diminished to the extent that such injury or damage was proximately caused by negligence or other tortious and/or intentional misconduct on the part of plaintiffs. AND FOR A THIRD, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 4. That the tortious misconduct alleged in the first amended complaint as to this defendant, if any there was, was not a substantial factor in bringing about the alleged injuries, and therefore was not a contributing cause, but was superseded by tortious and/or intentional misconduct by one or more third parties whose misconduct was an independent, intervening, sole and proximate cause of any alleged injuries or damages suffered. /// //7/ // 7 // 7] 163152.1154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT- Breitman ATTORNEYS AT LAW Co Om YN DH BF Bw KY NS N Ye YB YN N NY KY Be HB Be ewe ew Be ew BW ew iL oN DHA BB YN FF SOD we IA AA RF DH LS Le VW AND _FOR A FOURTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 5. Plaintiffs’ right to recovery from this answering defendant is limited pursuant to Section 1431.1, et seq. of the California Civil Code (also known as Proposition 51). AND FOR A FIFTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 6. This answering defendant is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that the injuries and damages alleged to have been suffered by plaintiffs in the first amended complaint herein, if any, were proximately caused or contributed to by the acts or omissions of third parties other than this answering defendant. It is thus necessary that the proportion or degree of negligence or fault of each of said persons or entities, whether parties to this action or not, be judicially determined and that any judgment that might be rendered against this answering defendant be reduced in proportion to the degree of fault attributed to each and every third person or entity found liable to the plaintiffs herein. As against each such third person or entity, whether served or not served in this action, whose acts or omissions are found to have proximately caused or contributed in any fashion to the injuries, if any, alleged to have been suffered by the plaintiffs herein, this answering defendant reserves the right to cross-complain and/or move for judgment against each such person or entity. //7/ //7 // 7 163152.1 154.15849 (dn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTrei Selman - B ATTORNEYS AT LAW Co OI DH RB WN BS So N YP YP YPN RY NY Fe Be Be we ew Be ee ew CN DH F YW NH FF So we AAA ROH BS CS VU AND FOR A SIXTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 7. The alleged defect and/or dangerous condition, if any, was so trivial in nature that it could not be considered a dangerous and/or a defective condition, thus barring any action by the plaintiffs against this answering defendant. AND FOR A SEVENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 8. At all times material herein, plaintiff decedent was aware of any inherent dangers to his person or property and assumed the risk of such danger by failing to take precautions in the conduct of his person or property. Plaintiff decedent’s assumption of said risk bars any recovery herein or diminishes plaintiffs’ recovery to the extent that plaintiff decedent's damage is attributable to his assumption of risk. AND FOR AN EIGHTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 9. If plaintiff decedent suffered or sustained any loss, damage or injury at or about the time and place alleged, the same were the direct and proximate result of the risk, if any risk there was, knowingly assumed by the plaintiff decedent in that the condition of the premises was open and obvious. // 7 //7/ // 7 //7 1631521 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTSelman + Breitman ATTORNEYS AT LAW 0 ON DH RB WN YN NY NY YN NH NY KY eB eB ewe ewe we Be ew eB oY AHA BF YH DH F&F SO we RA A RBH GBS WS VY AND _FOR A NINTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 10. Plaintiff decedent failed to exercise reasonable and ordinary care, caution, or prudence for his own safety in order to avoid the alleged incident. The resulting injuries and damages, if any, sustained by plaintiff decedent were proximately caused and contributed to by the negligence of plaintiff decedent, in that, among other things, any possible danger from the alleged dangerous condition was open and obvious to anyone using reasonable care and plaintiff decedent failed to use said reasonable care. AND FOR A TENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 11. Further answering the first amended complaint and the separate causes of action thereof, and as a further, separate and distinct affirmative defense thereto, said defendant alleges that the plaintiffs named defendant in this litigation without reasonable identification of what acts, if any, defendant participated in, and without a reasonable investigation. Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 128.5, defendant requests reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred by this defendant as a result of the maintenance by plaintiffs of this bad faith action. //7/ /// /// /// Jf 163152. 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTitman. rel ATTORNEYS AT LAW Selman » B; C0 Mm YN DH BF BW Ye So NR YN YN N NY NY B&B Be eB Be ewe ew ew eK oN DH BE YW NY F SB we RADA A BR WH HFS Qs Sy AND _FOR AN ELEVENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 12. Plaintiffs’ actions are barred by the statute of limitations provisions enunciated in Code of Civil Procedure _ section 340. AND FOR A TWELFTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 13. That plaintiffs are barred from any recovery on the causes of action they now seek to assert against this defendant due to the Doctrine of Laches. AND FOR A THIRTEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 14. Further answering the first amended complaint and the separate causes of action thereof, and as a further, separate and distinct affirmative defense thereto, said defendant alleges that the first amended complaint and the separate causes of action are barred by the provision of §§ 338, 339, 340(1), 340(3), 340.2, 343, 353, 583.110, 583.210, 583.310 and 583.410 of the California Code of Civil Procedure and § 2725 of the California Commercial Code. AND _FOR A FOURTEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 15. Plaintiffs, with actual knowledge of the particular danger, and with knowledge and understanding of the degree of risk involved in the use of this answering defendant's product (s), thereafter voluntarily assumed the risk of any injury from the use 163152. 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTrel: Selman : B: ATTORNEYS AT LAW 0 Oe YD DH RB Bw wY Yb NR YP YN YN NN NY ee eB Be eB ew Re eR eB eo YN A HW KF YB NH =F SOD DOM HAA DA RD HTS we VU of this product and therefore is precluded from any relief from this answering defendant. AND_FOR A FIFTEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 16. Plaintiffs are barred from recovery herein by reason of the fact that, at all times relevant to the subject action, decedent was not using defendant's product, if any, for the purpose intended or in the manner intended, and said conduct on the part of plaintiff constituted an unforeseeable misuse of said product, if any. AND FOR A SIXTEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 17. Answering defendant is informed and believes and on that basis alleges that the injuries and damages complained of, if any there were, would be attributable merely to a post-distribution modification, alteration or other change in some manner in the product for which plaintiffs would seek to hold this defendant legally responsible, which modification, alteration or change was not performed by or participated in or consented to or approved by answering defendant, or any agent or employee of answering defendant. Accordingly, plaintiffs would be barred from recovery as against answering defendant. //T //7 //f //7 163152.1 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTSelman - Breitman ATTORNEYS AT LAW Oo OID DA HW KR Ww 12 13 15 AND _FOR A SEVENTEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 18. Plaintiffs are barred from recovery herein as to plaintiffs’ breach of warranty theories of recovery in that plaintiffs failed to give the requisite timely notice as to any purported breach of warranty. AND FOR AN EIGHTEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 19. If the product described in the first amended complaint was manufactured and/or distributed by this defendant, it was manufactured and/or distributed in strict accordance with specifications supplied to defendant by persons or entities other than this defendant. Any defect(s) in said product were caused by deficiencies in the specifications supplied to defendant, which deficiencies were neither known to defendant nor discoverable by defendant with the exercise of reasonable care. AND FOR A NINETEENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 20. To the extent the first amended complaint asserts defendant's alleged "market share" liability, or "enterprise liability" the first amended complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause’of action against this defendant. //T // 7 //7 //7 163152.1 154,15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT0 Oo IU DW 10 1 12 13 14 ATTORNEYS AT LAW 15 Selman - Breitman 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Lo WY AND FOR A TWENTIETH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 21. Defendant alleges that at all times relative to matters in the first amended complaint, all of plaintiff decedent's employers were sophisticated users of defendant's products, and said employers' negligence in providing the product to their employees in a negligent, careless, and reckless manner was a superseding intervening cause of plaintiff decedent’s injuries, if any there were. AND _FOR A TWENTY-FIRST, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 22. The defendant did not and does not have a substantial percentage of the market for the asbestos-containing products which allegedly caused plaintiff decedent's injuries. Therefore, defendant may not be held liable to plaintiffs based on this defendant's alleged percentage share of the applicable market. AND _FOR A TWENTY-SECOND, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 23. Defendant denies any and all liability to the extent that plaintiffs assert defendant's alleged liability as a successor, successor in business, successor in product line, or a portion thereof; assign, predecessor, predecessor in business, predecessor in product line, or a portion thereof; parent, alter ego, subsidiary, wholly or partially owned by or the whole or partial owner of or member in any entity that plaintiffs allege was the /// 163152.1 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTrei ATTORNEYS AT LAW Selman - B: Oo OY DH BW NY Be Nb N YP NY YN NR NY NY Be Be Be Be Be ewe ewe ew Be on DH FF YW NHN = SOB ww KAA WARD YH CS / VL proximate or legal cause and/or contributed to plaintiff decedent's injuries or damages. AND FOR A TWENTY-THIRD, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 24. There should be no recovery against this defendant and all claims are barred because the products which are claimed to have caused injury and/or death were manufactured in compliance with the specifications established by the United States government and/or an agency, department or division thereof and that the United States government's knowledge of any and all health hazards, if any, were equal to, if not greater than, that of the defendants who were contractors to the United States government. AND FOR A TWENTY-FOURTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 25. Plaintiffs are barred from recovery in that all products produced by defendant were in conformity with the existing "state of the art" of reasonably acceptable medical, scientific, and industrial knowledge, art, and practice and, as a result, these products were not defective in any manner, and as such, this defendant is not liable for plaintiff decedent's injuries, if any. AND FOR A TWENTY-FIFTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 26. Further answering the first amended complaint and the separate causes of action thereof, and as a further, separate and distinct affirmative defense thereto, said defendant alleges that - 10 - 163152.1 1$4,15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTSelman + Breitman ATTORNEYS AT LAW Co ON DH RF WY YN Ne YY YN YN NR NY NY KY HB Bee ewe eB ewe we ew Be oy DAH BF YH NH FF DBO eI DH BF WH SS SS the plaintiffs named defendant in this litigation without reasonable identification of what acts, if any, defendant participated in, and without a reasonable investigation. Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 128.5, defendant requests reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred by this defendant as a result of the maintenance by plaintiffs of this bad faith action. AND FOR A TWENTY-SIXTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 27. To the extent that plaintiffs’ first amended complaint prays for damages which are subject to Workers' Compensation benefits, plaintiffs’ recovery herein shall be diminished or barred to the extent of compensation benefits paid to plaintiffs. AND_FOR A TWENTY-SEVENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 28. As to any claim for Workers' Compensation benefits paid which may be made with regard to this matter, the negligence or other tortious misconduct of plaintiff decedent’s employers and/or co-employees causing or contributing to said plaintiff decedent’s injuries and damages shall be imputed to plaintiff decedent’s employers or the employers' Workers' Compensation carriers so as to diminish or bar any claim with regard to said benefits. /// /// // 1 /// - 11 - 163152.1 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTSelman - Breitman ATTORNEYS AT LAW SO em ND HW BR wwe ~ nA & WwW NY 16 Lo wd AND_FOR A TWENTY-EIGHTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 29. Plaintiffs are barred from any recovery herein as against answering defendant in that, pursuant to Labor Code section 3600, et seq., plaintiffs’ exclusive remedy as against defendant with respect to the incident and damages complained of would be and is pursuant to the Workers' Compensation laws of the State of California and subject to resolution only in a Workers! Compensation forum. AND FOR A TWENTY-NINTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 30. As to plaintiffs’ claim for Workers' Compensation benefits paid, plaintiffs’ recovery herein, if any, shall be limited to answering defendant's proportional share of responsibility for the injuries and damages complained of, if any. AND_FOR A THIRTIETH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANTS ALLEGE: 31. Plaintiffs’ actions are barred by California Civil Code section 1714. AND _FOR A THIRTY-FIRST, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 32. If plaintiffs have received, or in future may receive, Workers’ 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 first amended complaint, and - 12 - 163152.1 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTrei ATTORNEYS AT LAW Selman : B: 0 Om QW DH BF WN NN NY YY NY KY NHN BSB Be Be ewe ewe ew ee ee ee oN DAM BBW NH fF SBD we AA A RF DH FS wo VU in the event plaintiffs are awarded damages against defendant, defendant claims a credit against this award to the extent that defendant is barred from enforcing its rights to reimbursement for Workers’ Compensation benefits that plaintiffs have received or may in the future receive. AND FOR A THIRTY-SECOND, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 33. Plaintiffs are barred from recovery herein in that plaintiff decedent’s injuries and damages, if any, were the result of no human intervention but were solely caused by a superhuman cause or Act of God, the effects of which could not have been anticipated or prevented by the exercise of care on the part of the defendant. AND _FOR A THIRTY-THIRD, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 34. All claims for damages for fear of cancer are barred because there is no theory of recovery under California law. AND _FOR A THIRTY-FOURTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 35. This defendant is entitled to a set-off of all amounts paid to the plaintiffs by other defendants pursuant to pro tanto settlements. //7/ //f //7 - 13 - 163152.1 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTttman. rel ATTORNEYS AT LAW Selman - B: Oo Om NY DH BF WN Nw N Ye YP BP NY NN NY Be Be ewe ew ew ewe ew Be oe oN DW RE YW NF SOD we aA AH BRB wD HFS Y YW AND FOR A THIRTY-FIFTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 36. Both the plaintiff decedent's employer and their union have had knowledge, during the periods alleged in the first amended complaint, of any possible defects which could result from the inhalation of asbestos particles and the failure of the various employers and of the plaintiff decedent’s unions to require the use of known safety precautions and devices to prevent harm is an intervening cause and is pled as a complete defense. AND_FOR A THIRTY-SIXTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 37. Defendant presently has insufficient knowledge or information upon which to form a belief as to whether it may have additional, as yet unknown, affirmative defenses. Defendant reserves herein the right to assert additional affirmative defense in the event discovery indicates it would be appropriate. AND FOR A THIRTY-SEVENTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 38. If it is established that this answering defendant made any warranty of any nature whatsoever relating to any product containing asbestos which it manufactured or distributed, said warranty has been fulfilled or terminated, and any claim based thereon is, therefore, barred. /// f/f /// 163152,1,154,15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTSelman + Breitman ATTORNEYS AT LAW Oo oO IY DA HW BR WN Nn N YP YN YN NY NY DY ee Be Be we ewe ew we eH oN DH FF HH |= SFO MAA A RBH FS YY VW AND FOR A THIRTY-EIGHTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 39. This answering defendant did not know and had no reasonable grounds for knowing, at the time any of its products containing asbestos were manufactured, at the time the plaintiff decedent, was allegedly exposed thereto, or at any other time, that any of said products could be hazardous, and further, this answering defendant has had no reason to know or believe that any of its products could be hazardous, in that any asbestos fibers contained in its products are locked in, encapsulated, and firmly bound and therefore do not release dangerous amounts of asbestos fiber. AND FOR A THIRTY-NINTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 40. This answering defendant did not know or believe and had no reasonable grounds for knowing or believing, at the time any of its products containing asbestos were manufactured, at the time the plaintiff decedent was allegedly exposed thereto, or at any other time, that any of said products posed a risk sufficient to give rise to a duty to warn, beyond any such duty otherwise imposed by law or regulation. This answering defendant's products have carried at all appropriate times the warnings required by OSHA and rules and regulations thereunder. // 7] //7/ //f /// - 15 - 163152. 154.1849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTrei ATTORNEYS AT LAW Selman : B: AND FOR A FORTIETH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 41. Neither plaintiffs nor plaintiff decedent were in privity with defendant and may not rely upon the theory of any alleged breach of any alleged express or implied warranty. AND FOR A FORTY-FIRST, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 42. The first amended complaint and any purported cause of action thereof, insofar as it is based upon alleged inadequacy of warnings, is barred by OSHA regulations that require standard warnings and thus preempt state law tort claims based on the purported inadequacy of such warnings. AND _FOR A FORTY-SECOND, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 43. Plaintiffs’ claim for punitive damages is barred by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. AND FOR A FORTY-THIRD, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 44. Plaintiffs’ claim for punitive damages is barred by the proscription of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibiting the imposition of excessive fines. // 1 // 1 - 16 - 163152.1 154.15849 (In) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTSelman - Brei ATTORNEYS AT LAW o ON DW BW NY Nb N Dh YY NY YN Ye eH Be Be eB Se ew ewe ek oN DM BF YW NH =F Sb we A DAA BR DH FS AND FOR A FORTY-FOURTH, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, DEFENDANT ALLEGES: 45. Plaintiffs’ claim for punitive damages is barred by the "double jeopardy" clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. WHEREFORE, having fully responded to the subject first amended complaint, answering defendant prays: 1. That plaintiffs take nothing by reason of their first amended complaint on file herein; 2. That defendant have judgment of dismissal; 3. For reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred herein; and 4. For such other and further relief as the court may deem just and proper in the premises. DATED: April } , 2003 SELMAN + BREITMAN .up By: A. SCOTT GOLDBERG Attorneys for Defendant SEPCO CORPORATION 1631521 154.15849 (Idn) ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINTCON DH BF WH He NN YY NY NY NR KY KY HY He ee ee Se ewe ew oN DAH F&F WH KF SLO we A DAHA Fw NH KF SS PROOF OF SERVICE Mary M. Williams, et al. v. A.W. Chesterton Co.; Sepco, et al. SFSC Case No. CGC-02-414536 STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES: I am employed in the County of Los Angeles, State of California. I am over the age of 18 years and am not a party to the within action; my business address is 11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Sixth Floor, Los Angeles, California 90025. On April 2., 2003, I served the document(s) described as ANSWER TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT on the interested parties in this action as follows: & by placing O the original & a true copy thereof enclosed in sealed envelopes addressed as follows: SEE ATTACHED SERVICE LIST Xl BY MAIL: By placing a true copy thereof in a sealed envelope addressed as above, and placing it for collection and mailing following ordinary business practices. I am readily familiar with the firm’s practice of collection and processing correspondence, pleadings, and other matters for mailing with the United States Postal Service on that same day with postage thereon fully prepaid at Los Angeles, California in the ordinary course of business. I am aware that on motion of the party served, service is presumed invalid if. the postal cancellation date or postage meter date is more than one day after date of deposit for mailing in affidavit. O BY OVERNIGHT COURIER: I caused the above-referenced document (s) to be delivered to for delivery to the above address(es). O BY FAX: I transmitted a copy of the foregoing document(s this date via telecopier to the facsimile numbers shown above. O BY PERSONAL SERVICE: I personally delivered such envelope by hand to the offices of the addressee(s). ® [State] I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct. Oo [Federal] I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on April Z; 2003, at Los Angeles, California.SoD OY D HM FB WY eS NH NY NY YW NY NY NY VY Ye eee Ree ee ee CIDA BF wWwNH FEF SO wm AA HA KR wWBH Williams, SERVICE LIST et al. v. Sepco, et al. SFSC Case No. 414536 Dean A. Hanley, Esq. PAUL, HANLEY & HARLEY, LLP 1608 Fourth St., Suite 300 Berkeley, CA 94710 BERRY & BERRY P.O. Box 16070 ° Oakland, CA 94610 Counsel for Plaintiffs Tel: 510.559.9980 Fax: 510.559.9970 BERRY & BERRY Tel: 510.250.0200 Fax: 510.250.0023