Stearns v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

**530 *696 In this case we are called on to answer a certified question from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts concerning whether the six-year statute of repose set forth in G. L. c. 260, § 2B ( § 2B ), operates to bar tort claims arising from diseases with extended latency periods, such as those associated with asbestos exposure, where the defendants had knowing control of the injurious instrumentality at the time of exposure. 4 We answer the question in the affirmative. Consistent with our precedent, we conclude that § 2B completely eliminates all tort claims…