Livingston v. ABB, Inc.

100 F. Supp. 3d 894, 2015 WL 1549008, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45544
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedApril 2, 2015
DocketCase No. 2:12-cv-01220-WGY
StatusPublished

This text of 100 F. Supp. 3d 894 (Livingston v. ABB, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Livingston v. ABB, Inc., 100 F. Supp. 3d 894, 2015 WL 1549008, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45544 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT [ECF NOS. 330, 333, 336, and 341]

YOUNG, District Judge.1

I. INTRODUCTION

Patricia Ann Livingston, Deborah Selby, Douglas Livingston, and David Livingston (the “Plaintiffs”) bring this action for the wrongful death of Gerald Livingston (“Livingston”), allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos and asbestos-containing products. See Second Am. Compl. Wrongful Death (“Am. Compl.”), ECF No. 187. Motions for summary judgment were filed by four defendants: United Technologies Corporation (“UTC”), Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (“Schneider”), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (“Curtiss-Wright”), and Eaton Corporation (“Eaton”) (collectively, the “Defendants”). On September 10, 2014, the Court issued an order setting out some of its rulings and inviting further briefing. Here, the Court sets out its remaining rulings and explains its reasoning as to all four motions.

[897]*897A. Procedural Posture

This action was initiated on February 10, 2012, when Livingston and his wife Patricia Ann filed a personal injury complaint in the Central District of California against more than two dozen defendants for exposing Livingston to asbestos. See Compl., ECF No. 1. On September 3, 2012, Livingston passed away, and his heirs were granted leave to file an amended complaint for wrongful death. Nee.Pis.’ Case Status Report 1:20, 2:1-9, ECF No. 184; Minutes Status Conf., Oct. 1, 2012, ECF No. 186. A second amended complaint was filed on October 15, 2012, by Patricia Ann Livingston (acting both individually and as personal representative of Gerald Livingston’s estate) Deborah Selby, Douglas Livingston, and David Livingston. See Am. Compl.

Four motions for summary judgment, all specifically addressed to the issue of asbestos exposure, are before the Court. First, on September 19, 2013, UTC filed a motion for summary judgment as to all claims against it. Def. United Techs. Corp.’s Notice Mot. Summ. J. (“UTC SJ Mot.”), ECF No. 330; see id., Ex. 1, Def. United Techs. Corp.’s Mot. Summ. J.; Mem. Points & Auths. (“UTC’s Mem.”), ECF No. 330-1. The Plaintiffs filed a memorandum in opposition to UTC’s motion on October 4, 2013. Pis.’ Mem. Points & Auths. Opp’n Def. United Techs. Corp.’s Mot. Summ. J. (“Pis.’ UTC Opp’n”), ECF No. 347. UTC filed a reply on October 18, 2013. Def. United Techs. Corp.’s Reply Supp. Mot. Summ. J. (“UTC’s Reply”), ECF No. 365. Almost a year later, on August 27, 2014, the Plaintiffs filed a supplemental opposition brief containing deposition testimony taken after their original opposition brief was filed. See Supp. Opp’n & Pis.’ Mem. Points & Auths. Opp’n Def. United Techs. Corp.’s Mot. Summ. J. (“Pis.’ Supp. UTC Opp’n”), ECF No. 421. UTC responded on September 2, 2014, pointing out that the Plaintiffs did not seek leave to file further briefs with the Cburt and substantively responding to the Pláíh-' tiffs’ supplemental arguments. .See Def. United Techs. Corp.’s Resp. Pis.’. Supp. Opp’n Mot. Summ. J.; Deck John JL Soh (“UTC’s Supp. Reply”), ECF No. 424.

Second, on September 20, 2013, Schneider filed a motion for summary judgment on all claims as to it. Notice Def. Schneider Elec. USA, Inc.’s Mot. Summ. J. (“Schneider SJ Mot.”), ECF No. 333; see id., Ex. 1, Mem. Points & Auths. Supp. Def. Schneider Elec. USA, Inc-’s.? Mot. Summ. J. (“Schneider’s Mfehi.”), íifíjf' 333-1. The Plaintiffs filed their bppbtii||® on October 4, 2013. Pis.’ Auths. Opp’n Def. Schneider íSifeA |lSA Ine.’s Mot. Suinm. J. (“Pis.’ Schffbhfe;, Opp’n”), ECF No. 350. Schnéidéí on October 18, 2013. Def. Sehfteidér * USA, Inc.’s Reply Br. Supp. Mot. St_ J. (“Schneider’s Reply”), ÉÓF! Ntu36S.

Third, on September 20, 2013, Curtiss-Wright moved for summary judgment on all claims against it. Def. Curtiss-Wright Corp.’s Notice Mot. & Mot. Summ. J. Causation (“Curtiss-Wright SJ Mot.”), ECF No. 336; see id., Ex. 1, Def. Curtiss-Wright Corp.’s Mem. Points & Auths. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. Causation (“Curtiss-Wright’s Mem.”), ECF No. 336-1. The Plaintiffs filed their opposition on October 4, 2013. Pis.’ Mem. Points & Auths. Opp’n Def. Curtiss-Wright Corp.’s Mot. Surrim. J. (“Pis.’ Curtiss-Wright Opp’n”), ECF' No. 348. Curtiss-Wright replied on October 18, 2013. Def. Curtiss-Wright Corp.’s Reply Mem. Points & Auths. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. Causation (“Curtiss-Wright’s Reply”), ECF No. 366.

Fourth, on September 23, 2013, Eaton, individually and as successor-in-interest to Culter Hammer, Inc. (collectively “Eaton”), moved for summary judgment on all claims as to it. Def. Eaton Corp., Individ[898]*898ually & Successor-in-interest Cutler Hammer, Inc.’s Notice Mot. Summ. J. (“Eaton SJ Mot”), ECF No. 341; see id., Ex. 1, Def. Eaton Corp., Individually & Successor-in-interest Cutler Hammer, Inc.’s Mot. Summ. J. Mem. Points & Auths. (“Eaton’s Mem.”), ECF No. 341-1. The Plaintiffs filed an opposition memorandum on October 4, 2013. Pis.’ Mem. Points & Auths. Opp’n Def. Eaton Corp.’s Mot. Summ. J. (“Pis.’ Eaton Opp’n”), ECF No. 349. Eaton replied on October 18, 2013. Def. Eaton Corp., Individually & Successor-in-interest Cutler Hammer, Inc.’s Reply Brief Supp. Mot. Summ. J. (“Eaton’s Reply”), ECF No. 364.

An oral hearing on these motions took place on September 5, 2014, and the Court took all issues under advisement. Minutes, Sept. 5, 2014, ECF No. 425. On September 10, the Court issued an order GRANTING the summary judgment motions brought by Schneider, ECF No. 333, and Eaton, ECF No. 341. Order, Sept. 10, 2014, ECF No. 426. The Court’s order also requested further briefing from the Plaintiffs on the admissibility of the proffered expert testimony of Mark A. Thomson, whose opinions are central to the issues raised by UTC’s and Curtiss-Wright’s motions. Id. at 4. Responsive briefing was filed on September 19, 2014. See Further Expert Briefing Re: Mark Thomson’s Daubert Admissibility Defs. United Techs. Corp. & Curtiss-Wright Corp. (“Thomson Daubert Mem.”), ECF No. 427.

B. Undisputed Facts2

Gerald Livingston was a career aircraft electrician with a history of service in the United States Air Force (“Air Force”). See Am. Compl. ¶29. He worked as an aircraft electrician for the Air Force at various bases from 1952 to 1961. Id. This period is the primary focus of the Plaintiffs’ claims of exposure regarding UTC, Schneider, Curtiss-Wright, and Eaton. See Pis.’ UTC Opp’n 1:2-3; Pis.’ Schneider Opp’n 2:5-16; Pis.’ Curtiss-Wright Opp’n 1:2-3; Pis.’ Eaton Opp’n 2:5-16. In 1961, Livingston left active duty and served in the Air Force Reserve, continuing to work in some capacity as an aircraft electrician. See Am. Compl. ¶ 29.

Livingston was qualified to perform comprehensive electrical work on several models of aircraft flown by the Air Force, including the Douglas C-54 and the Boeing B-29, B-47, B-49, and B-52. Pis.’ Statement Genuine Issues Opp’n United Techs. Corp.’s Mot. Summ. J 3:13-20, EOF No. 347-1. Across the several bases where he worked during his ten years of service, Livingston testified that approximately sixty percent of his time was spent in an electrical shop working on individual airplane components. Livingston Dep.3 210:1-213:4. The remaining forty percent of Livingston’s work involved outdoor [899]

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Bluebook (online)
100 F. Supp. 3d 894, 2015 WL 1549008, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45544, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/livingston-v-abb-inc-cacd-2015.