Vicknair v. Phelps Dodge Indus. Inc.
| Decision Date | 18 February 2011 |
| Docket Number | No. 20100029.,20100029. |
| Court | North Dakota Supreme Court |
| Parties | Joseph M. VICKNAIR; Anthony Whitaker; Theresa Zefiretto, as personal representative for the Estate of Liborio Zefiretto; Robert Ulshafer; John Sehr; Ray Brunet, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of Eugene P. Brunet, deceased; Violet Cooper, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of William H. Cooper, deceased; Janice Hilborn, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of August Freeman, deceased; Mildred Pastva, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of John G. Pastva, deceased; Cheryl Pernell, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of Eddie Pernell, Sr., deceased; Lisa Sangerman, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of Richard A. Christofretti, deceased; Margaret Swygert, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of Cromwell Swygert, deceased; Ruby Todd, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of David D. Todd, deceased; Rona Pourier, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of Hobert Ecoffey, deceased; and Patrick Blando, individually, and as personal representative for the Estate of Wendell Blando, deceased; Plaintiffs and Appellantsv.PHELPS DODGE INDUSTRIES, INC.; A.H. Bennett Company; A.W. Kuettel & Sons, Inc.; Border States Industries, Inc.; Columbia Boiler Co.; Crane Co,; Cleaver–Brooks, Division of Aqua–Chem, Inc.; Dossert Corporation; DuctSox Corporation f/k/a Frommelt Safety Products; Superior Essex Group (individually and as successor-in-interest to Essex International, Inc.); Electric Supply Corp.; Excelsior, Inc.; Foster Wheeler, LLC; Greene, Tweed & Company; Houston Specialty Wire & Cable Corp.; Oakfabco f/k/a Kewanee Boiler Corporation; Rockbestos–Surprenant Cable Corp. (f/k/a The Rockbestos Company); Riley Stoker Corporation; Robertson Ceco Corporation, f/k/a H.H. Roberson Company; Sprinkman Sons Corporation; Weil McLain Company; Zurn Industries, Inc.; United Conveyor Corporation; S.O.S. Products Company, Inc.; Foseco, Inc.; Fuel Economy Engineering, Co.; Burnham LLC, f/k/a Burnham Corporation; Bryan Steam Corporation; Certain–Teed Corporation; Foster Products Corporation (as successor-in-interest to Foster Products Division of H.P. Fuller Company and to the Benjamin Foster Division of AmChem Products, Inc.); Graybar Electric; H.P. Fuller Company; Hobart Brothers Co.; Inductotherm Industries, Inc.; The Jamar Company (individually and as successor-in-interest and liability to the Walker–Jamar Company); John Crane, Inc. (successor-in-interest to John Crane–Houdaille, Inc. and Crane Packing Company); Kelsey–Hayes Group (a division of Varity Corporation); Linde, Inc., f/k/a BOC Group and/or Airco, Inc.; Lincoln Electric Co.; Praxair Distribution, Inc.; RCH Newco II; Rhone–Poulenc, Inc. (as successor-in-interest to Benjamin Foster, a division of AmChem Products Company); Stemmerich Supply Co.; Thermo Electric Co. (n/k/a Exteco, Inc.); and Union Carbide Corporation, Defendants and Appelleesand999 Quebec, Inc. (a/k/a International Boiler Works Company); ACandS, Inc. (individually and as successor-in-interest to Armstrong Contracting & Supply, Inc. and Keasby & Mattison Company); A.L. Crump and Company, Inc.; American Standard, Inc.; A.P.I., Inc. (a/k/a A.P.I. Company of Minnesota); A.W. Chesterton Company; Anchor Packing Company; Apollo Piping & Supply; Asbestos Corporation, Ltd.; Atlas Turner, Inc.; Australian Blue Asbestos, Pty.; Bell & Gosset; Bell Asbestos Mines, Ltd.; Building Sprinkler Company, Inc.; CBS Corporation (f/k/a Westinghouse Electric Corporation); Chromalox (a division of Emerson Electric Company); Combustion Engineering, Inc. (successor-in-interest to M.H. Detrick Company, Walsh Refractory Corporation and Refractory and Insulation Corporation); Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (successor-in-interest to Mundet Cork Corporation); CSR, Ltd. (a/k/a Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd.) individually and as an alter-ego of Australian Blue Asbestos, Pty.; Dakota Welding Supply; Deltak, L.L.C. (a Unit of Jason Inc.); Detroit Stoker; Draxton Sales; Dresser Industries, Inc.; Durabla Manufacturing Company; E.J. Lavino and Company, Inc.; Electric Supply Corp.; Emerson Electric Co.; Ericsson, Inc. (f/k/a Cablec Corp.) (as successor-in-interest to Anaconda Wire & Cable Company); F.R.P. Products, Ltd.; F & C Supply, Inc.; Fargo–Moorhead Insulation Company; Firebrick Supply Co.; Fisher Governor Co.; Flintkote Company (individually and as successor-in-interest to Flintkote Mines, Ltd.); Flintkote Mines, Ltd.; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company; George T. Walker & Co., Inc.; Georgia–Pacific Corp.; Henry Vogt Machine Company; Hercules Chemical Company, Inc.; Hickory Insulation Co.; Honeywell, Inc.; Hopeman Brothers, Inc.; Illinois Insulation Contracting Company, Inc. (f/k/a Illinois Roofing & Insulation Company); Ingersoll–Rand Company; Insulation Services, Inc.; International Vermiculite Co.; Jerguson Gage & Valve; J.H. France Refractories Company; Johnston Boiler Co.; Lac D'Amiante du Quebec, Ltee. (f/k/a Lake Asbestos of Quebec); Lochinvar; M.W. Kellogg Company; MacArthur Company; Mandan Electric Supply; Marmon Corporation; McMaster Carr Supply Company; McNeil Refactories, Inc.; Mellema Company; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Mine Safety Appliance Company; Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing; Northern Plumbing Supply, Inc.; The Okonite Company, Inc.; Owens–Illinois, Inc.; Parker Boiler Co.; Paul A. Douden; Pfizer, Inc.; Pipe, Valve & Fittings Company; Power Process Equipment, Inc.; Quigley Co., Inc.; Quin–T Corporation; Rapid–American Corporation; Research Cottrell, Inc.; Rockwell International Corporation; Rome Cable Corp.(a subsidiary of Rome Group Inc.); Roughrider Supply; Ryall Electric Supply Co.; Samuel Moore & Co.; Smith–Sharpe Company; SEPCO Corporation; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Sussman Electric Boilers; The Trane Company (a division of American Standard Inc.); U.S. Filter Co.; Union Boiler Co.; Uniroyal, Inc.; and Victor H. Leeby Company, Defendants. |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
David C. Thompson (argued), David C. Thompson, P.C., Grand Forks, N.D., and Jeanette Boechler (on brief), Boechler Law Firm, Fargo, N.D., for plaintiffs and appellants.Larry L. Boschee (argued), Pearce & Durick, Bismarck, N.D., for defendant and appellee Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc.Robert E. Diehl, Kyle Brown Mansfield, Heather Holland Neubauer, Elizabeth Marie Sorenson Brotten, Foley & Mansfield P.L.L.P., Minneapolis, MN, for defendants and appellees A.H. Bennett Company; A.W. Kuettel & Sons, Inc.; Border States Industries, Inc.; Columbia Boiler Co.; Dossert Corporation; DuctSox Corporation f/k/a Frommelt Safety Products; Superior Essex Group (individually and as successor-in-interest to Essex International, Inc.); Electric Supply Corp.; Excelsior, Inc.; Foster Wheeler, LLC; Greene, Tweed & Company; Houston Specialty Wire & Cable Corp.; Rockbestos–Surprenant Cable Corp. (f/k/a The Rockbestos Company); Riley Stoker Corporation; Robertson Ceco Corporation, f/k/a H.H. Roberson Company; Stemmerich Supply Co.; Sprinkman Sons Corporation; Weil McLain Company; and Zurn Industries, Inc.David Thomas Schach, Meagher & Geer, Minneapolis, MN, for defendants and appellees United Conveyor Corporation; and S.O.S. Products Company, Inc.Steven A. Storslee, Storslee Law Firm, Bismarck, N.D., for defendant and appellee John Crane, Inc. (successor-in-interest to John Crane–Houdaille, Inc. and Crane Packing Company).Ronald H. McLean and Jane L. Dynes, Serkland Law Firm, Fargo, N.D., for defendants and appellees Certain–Teed Corporation, H.P. Fuller Co., Foster Products Corporation, as successor-in-interest to Foster Products Division of H.P. Fuller Company and to the Benjamin Foster Division of AmChem Products, Inc., Rhone–Poulenc, Inc., and Union Carbide Corporation.Stephen W. Plambeck, Nilles, Ilvedson, Plambeck & Selbo, Ltd., Fargo, N.D., for defendants and appellees Burlington Northern Cleaver–Brooks Carlisle Companies.Scott David Jensen, Camrud Maddock Olson & Larson, Ltd., Grand Forks, N.D., for defendants and appellees Oakfabco f/k/a Kewanee Boiler Corporation; John Crane, Inc. (successor-in-interest to John Crane–Houdaille, Inc. and Crane Packing Company); Cleaver–Brooks, Division of Aqua–Chem and Thermo Electric Co., n/k/a Exteco, Inc.Michael D. Sharkey and Jon P. Parrington, Pustorino, Tilton, Parrington & Lindquist, P.L.L.P., Minneapolis, MN, for defendant and appellee Fuel Economy Engineering Co.Nicholas John O'Connell, Murnane Brandt, St. Paul, MN, for defendant and appellee Foseco, Inc.Shawnda R. Ereth, Zuger Kirmis & Smith, Bismarck, N.D., for defendant and appellee Burnham LLC, f/k/a Burnham Corporation.Paul Rudell Oppegard, Oppegard, Wolf & Quinton, Moorhead, MN, for defendants and appellees Linde, Inc. F/k/a BOC Group and/or Airco, Inc., Hobart Brothers, Co., Lincoln Electric Co., Praxair Distribution Inc., Inductotherm Industries, Inc., Graybar Electric, and Kelsey–Hayes Group, a division of Varity Corporation.Richard John Leighton, Duluth, MN, for defendants and appellees The Jamar Co., individually and as successor-in-interest and liability to Walker–Jamar Company.Stacey Tjon Bossart, Solberg, Stewart, Miller & Tjon, Fargo, N.D., for defendant and appellee Bryan Steam Corporation.Jeb Donavan Oehlke, North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, Bismarck, N.D., Cary Silverman and Mark A. Behrens, Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Washington, DC, and Robin S. Conrad, National Chamber Litigation Center, Inc., Washington, DC, amicus curiae North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, Coalition for Litigation Justice, Inc., Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, National Association of Manufacturers, NFIB Small Business Legal Center, American Tort Reform Association, Property Causality Insurers Association of America, and American Insurance Association....
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