Jeffrey v. Rapid American Corp., Docket Nos. 151835-151840

• Decision Date: 08 June 1993
• Docket Number: 152454,153670,Docket Nos. 151835-151840,152990,155041-155052,153671,157109-157111,155793-155798,157285,151850-151854,157291,152931,156870-156882,152985,152994,156121,152984,152988
• Citation: 200 Mich.App. 150,503 N.W.2d 720
• Parties: , Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 13,658 Hector J. JEFFREY and Helen Jeffrey, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Elva L. SHEHAN, Personal Representative of the Estate of Lester R. Shehan, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Donald HUNT and Sally Hunt, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Denver SHELTON and Jewel Shelton, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Frank EGAN and Betty J. Egan, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Edward LANCASTER and Kathleen Lancaster, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Agnes Rae STACHERSKI, Personal Representative of the Estate of Frederick Stacherski, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Otis FORKNER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Richard A. BERRY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. George DEGROOD and Rita Degrood, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Ottilie F. GRANGER and Theodore Granger, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Margaret L. WOODYARD, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Iris L. PEPPERS and Raymond J. Peppers, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Arthur BOHNHOFF and Jean Bohnhoff, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Theoplis KIMBROUGH and Minnie Kimbrough, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Jeffrey ROBERTS and Carolyn Roberts, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. Franklin D. CAMERON and Mary J. Cameron, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant. John L. CURTIS and Gwendolyn Curtis, Plaintiffs-
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 720

503 N.W.2d 720

200 Mich.App. 150, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 13,658

Hector J. JEFFREY and Helen Jeffrey, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Elva L. SHEHAN, Personal Representative of the Estate of Lester R. Shehan, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Donald HUNT and Sally Hunt, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Denver SHELTON and Jewel Shelton, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Frank EGAN and Betty J. Egan, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Edward LANCASTER and Kathleen Lancaster, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Agnes Rae STACHERSKI, Personal Representative of the Estate

of Frederick Stacherski, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Otis FORKNER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Richard A. BERRY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

George DEGROOD and Rita Degrood, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Ottilie F. GRANGER and Theodore Granger, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Margaret L. WOODYARD, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Iris L. PEPPERS and Raymond J. Peppers, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Arthur BOHNHOFF and Jean Bohnhoff, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Theoplis KIMBROUGH and Minnie Kimbrough, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Jeffrey ROBERTS and Carolyn Roberts, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Franklin D. CAMERON and Mary J. Cameron, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

John L. CURTIS and Gwendolyn Curtis, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Luther HARRIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Eurick CRAYTON, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Gerald PINCH and Christine Pinch, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Jack HOLBROOK and Delais A. Holbrook, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Gordon R. ZAHN and Sandra Zahn, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

James BLUHM and Gail Bluhm, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Bruno FRESCKI and Carla Frescki, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Kathleen MALENFANT, Personal Representative of the Estate of Thomas Malenfant, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Ian BURNETT, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Charlotte BEUTLER, Personal Representative of the Estate of Elijah J. Montie, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

John MYERS and Noreen Myers, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Rose STANKO, Personal Representative of the Estate of Andrew

Stanko, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

David SOLOSAN, Personal Representative of the Estate of Frank Solosan, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Betty FERRETTI, Personal Representative of the Estate of Emmit Ferretti, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

John A. O'MALLEY and Minnie O'Malley, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Kenneth H. PAYNE and Doris J. Payne, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Donald G. WALKER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Edwin J. HEMMEN and Wanda Hemmen, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Charles W. ROGERS and Jennifer Rogers, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Edwin J. SZATKOWSKI and Therese G. Szatkowski, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Glenn R. BEARDSLEE and Patricia Beardslee, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Agnes L. SABOL, Personal Representative of the Estate of George T. Sabol, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Robert GARRISON, Personal Representative of the Estate of Howard Garrison, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Carolyn REITTENBACH, Personal Representative of the Estate

of Daniel Lockhart, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Thomas WINN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Glen E. BELLINGER and Velma Bellinger, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Dorothy NORRIS, Personal Representative of the Estate of Jerry J. Norris, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Eveline STACHOWIAK, Personal Representative of the Estate of Chester Stachowiak, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Glenn W. BRIMMER and Donna J. Brimmer, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Archie HAZEN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Betty BERRY, Personal Representative of the Estate of Max

Berry, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Geraldine BORDEAUX, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Richard L. SEAVER and Janet P. Seaver, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

John A. KLINE and Marion H. Kline, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

James E. EARLES and Loretta Earles, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Richard D. SELBY and Linda Selby, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

John E. WUERTH and Helen Wuerth, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

William W. PIPPO and Toini L. Pippo, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Frank J. NOWAK and Marianne C. Nowak, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. RAPID AMERICAN CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket Nos. 151835-151840, 151850-151854, 152454, 152931,

152984, 152985, 152988, 152990, 152994, 153670,

153671, 155041-155052, 155793-155798,

156121, 156870-156882,

157109-157111,

157285, 157291.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted Jan. 11, 1993, at Lansing.

Decided June 8, 1993, at 9:20 a.m.

Released for Publication Aug. 24, 1993.

Michael B. Serling, P.C., Birmingham by Michael B. Serling and William T. Russell, Henderson & Goldberg, P.C., Saginaw by Joel I. Persky, Lane A. Clack, and James M. Hession, and Tybe A. Brett, Pittsburgh, PA, for plaintiffs-appellees.

Kazul & Associates, P.C., Detroit by Stan C. Kazul and John J. Schutza, and Rubin Baum Levin Constant & Friedman, New York City by Paul H. Aloe, for defendant-appellant.

Before FITZGERALD, P.J., and SHEPHERD and JANSEN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Defendant Rapid American Corporation appeals by leave granted numerous orders denying its motion for summary disposition filed in these asbestos personal injury cases. We affirm in each case.

These cases deal with the issues of Rapid's successor liability and the authority of Michigan courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over Rapid. In 1888, Philip Carey Manufacturing Corporation (Old Carey) was incorporated in Ohio. Old Carey manufactured products containing asbestos. These products were distributed in Michigan. On June 1, 1967, Old Carey merged with Glen Alden Corporation, a Delaware corporation not engaged in the asbestos business. The merger agreement provided that Glen Alden would assume all assets and liabilities of Old Carey. On June 1, 1967, all assets and liabilities of Old Carey were assigned to Philip Carey Manufacturing Company (New Carey). New Carey operated as a subsidiary of Glen Alden. In 1970, New Carey merged with Briggs Manufacturing Company and changed its name to Panacon Corporation. Glen Alden owned the majority of Panacon stock. In 1972, Glen Alden sold its remaining Panacon/New Carey stock to Celotex Corporation. Celotex assumed all assets and liabilities, including those remaining from Old Carey. After selling its stock in Panacon/New Carey to Celotex, Glen Alden merged into Rapid's corporate structure to form a Delaware corporation called Rapid American. The merger agreement provided in part as follows:

"[B]ut all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of any of the Constituent Corporations [Glen Alden and Rapid] shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Constituent Corporations shall thenceforth attach to the Surviving Corporation [Rapid] and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it." [Emphasis supplied.]

In 1980, Rapid merged with Kenton Corporation to form the present Rapid American Corporation.

Celotex was named as a defendant in asbestos personal injury cases on the basis of the alleged liability of Old Carey. After Celotex commenced bankruptcy proceedings in 1990, Rapid was added as a party defendant in actions filed against Celotex and numerous other defendants.

Rapid filed motions for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(1), arguing that Michigan could not exercise personal jurisdiction over it ...