In Re Asbestosis Cases

Rhodes, Justice:

This is an appeal from a denial of a change of venue motion in the consolidated asbestosis cases 1 in Barnwell County, in which appellant Covil Corporation (Covil) is a party defendant in a number of cases. We reverse.

These product liability suits allege that respondents, as indusrial insulators, were exposed during their year of employment to asbestos insulation materials manufactured or sold by the various defendants, resulting in their serious injury or death. Three theories of liability are generally asserted in the complaints: negligence, breach of warranty, and strict…