Vicknair v. Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc.

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Writing for the Court: Sandstrom
• Citation: Vicknair v. Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc., 767 N.W.2d 171, 2009 ND 113 (N.D. 2009)
• Decision Date: 29 June 2009
• Docket Number: No. 20080139.,20080139.
• 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 Appellants v. PHELPS DODGE INDUSTRIES, INC.; A.H. Bennett Company; A.W. Kuettel & Sons, Inc.; Border States Industries, Inc.; Columbia Boiler Co.; Crane Co; Dossert Corporation; DuctSox Corporation f/k/a Frommelt Safety Products; Superior Essex Group (individually and as successor-in-interest to Essex International, Inc.); 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.; American Standard, Inc.; The Trane Company (a division of American Standard Inc.); United Conveyor Corporation; S.O.S. Products Company, Inc.; Foseco, Inc.; Fuel Economy Engineering Co.; J.H. France Refractories Company; Smith-Sharpe Company; 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.B. Fuller Company and to the Benjamin Foster Division of AmChem Products, Inc.); Graybar Electric; H.B. Fuller Company; Henry Vogt Machine Company; Hobart Brothers Co.; Inductotherm Industries, Inc.; The Jamar Company (individually and as successor-in-interest and liability to the Walker-Jamar 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); Union Carbide Corporation; Uniroyal, Inc.; and The Jamar Co., individually and as successor-in-interest to Walker Jamar Company, Defendants and Appellees and 999 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.; 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); Cleaver-Brooks, Division of Aqua-Chem, Inc.; 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.; 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; John Crane, Inc. (successor-in-interest to John Crane-Houdaille, Inc. and Crane Packing 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.; SEPCO Corporation; Stemmerich Supply Co.; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Sussman Electric Boilers; Thermo Electric Co.; U.S. Filter Co.; Union Boiler Co.; and Victor H. Leeby Company, Defendants.

767 N.W.2d 171

2009 ND 113

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 Appellants v. PHELPS DODGE INDUSTRIES, INC.; A.H. Bennett Company; A.W. Kuettel & Sons, Inc.; Border States Industries, Inc.; Columbia Boiler Co.; Crane Co; Dossert Corporation; DuctSox Corporation f/k/a Frommelt Safety Products; Superior Essex Group (individually and as successor-in-interest to Essex International, Inc.); 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.; American Standard, Inc.; The Trane Company (a division of American Standard Inc.); United Conveyor Corporation; S.O.S. Products Company, Inc.; Foseco, Inc.; Fuel Economy Engineering Co.; J.H. France Refractories Company; Smith-Sharpe Company; 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.B. Fuller Company and to the Benjamin Foster Division of AmChem Products, Inc.); Graybar Electric; H.B. Fuller Company; Henry Vogt Machine Company; Hobart Brothers Co.; Inductotherm Industries, Inc.; The Jamar Company (individually and as successor-in-interest and liability to the Walker-Jamar 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); Union Carbide Corporation; Uniroyal, Inc.; and The Jamar Co., individually and as successor-in-interest to Walker Jamar Company, Defendants and Appellees and

999 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.; 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); Cleaver-Brooks, Division of Aqua-Chem, Inc.; 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.; 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; John Crane, Inc. (successor-in-interest to John Crane-Houdaille, Inc. and Crane Packing 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.; SEPCO Corporation; Stemmerich Supply Co.; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Sussman Electric Boilers; Thermo Electric Co.; U.S. Filter Co.; Union Boiler Co.; and Victor H. Leeby Company, Defendants.

No. 20080139.

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

June 29, 2009.

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, and Heather H. Neubauer, 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.), Excelsior, Inc., Foster Wheeler, LLC, Greene, Tweed & Company, Houston Specialty Wire & Cable Corp., Oakfabco f/k/a Kewanee Boiler Corporation, RCH Newco, LLC, Robertson Ceco Corporation, f/k/a H.H. Robertson Company, Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. (f/k/a The Rockbestos Company), Riley Stoker Corporation, Sprinkman Sons Corporation, Weil McLain Company, and Zurn Industries, Inc.

David Thomas Schach and John C. Hughes, Meagher & Geer, Minneapolis, MN, for defendants and appellees United Conveyor Corporation, and S.O.S. Products Company, Inc.

Steven A. Storslee, Storslee Law Firm, P.C., Bismarck, N.D., for defendant and appellee Crane Co.

W. Todd Haggart, Vogel Law Firm, Fargo, N.D., for defendants and appellees American Standard, Inc. and the Trane Company, a division of American Standard, Inc.

Nicholas John O'Connell, Murnane Brandt, St. Paul, MN, for defendant and appellee Foseco, Inc.

Thomas Dice Jensen, Lind Jensen Sullivan Peterson, Minneapolis, MN, for defendant and appellee Smith-Sharpe Company and J.H. France Refractories Company.

Shawnda R. Ereth, Zuger Kirmis & Smith, Bismarck, N.D., for defendant and appellee Burnham LLC.

Paul Rudell Oppegard, Oppegard, Wolf & Quinton, Moorhead, MN, for defendants and appellees Uniroyal, Inc., 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.

Jane L. Dynes and Ronald H. McLean, Serkland Law Firm, Fargo, N.D., for defendants and appellees Certain-Teed Corporation, H.B. Fuller Co., Foster Products Corporation, as successor-in-interest to Foster Products Division of H.B. Fuller Company and to the Benjamin Foster Division of AmChem Products, Inc., Rhone-Poulenc, Inc., and Union Carbide Corp.

Richard John Leighton, Duluth, MN, for defendants and appellees The Jamar Co., individually and as successor-in-interest and liability to Walker Jamar Company.

Kent Benedict Gravelle, Cundy & Martin, LLC, Bloomington, MN, for defendant and appellee Henry Vogt Machine Co.

Kent Benedict Gravelle, Cundy & Martin, Bloomington, MN, for defendant and appellee Henry Vogt Machine Co.

Michael D. Sharkey, Pustorino, Tilton, Parrington & Lindquist, PLLP, Minneapolis, MN, for defendant and appellee Fuel Economy Engineering Co.

SANDSTROM, Justice.

[¶ 1] Joseph M. Vicknair and fourteen other plaintiffs appeal from a judgment severing them from two lawsuits and dismissing without prejudice on the ground of forum non conveniens their asbestos-related product liability action against Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc., and numerous other defendants. Although the defendants cross-appealed, they abandoned the cross-appeal by failing to raise any cross-appeal issues in their brief or argument. See Estate of Ambers, 477 N.W.2d 218, 219 n. 2 (N.D.1991). We conclude the district court erred in granting the motion to dismiss on the basis of forum non conveniens, because the defendants have not shown an adequate alternative forum exists in another...