Shields v. Hennessy Industries, Inc.

Opinion

MARCHIANO, P. J.

Plaintiffs in these consolidated actions appeal from judgments on the pleadings in favor of defendant Hennessy Industries, Inc. (Hennessy), the manufacturer of a brake arcing machine. Each of the plaintiffs alleged Hennessy’s machine was designed and used exclusively for the purpose of shaping, by grinding action, brake linings that were manufactured by others, but contained asbestos fibers that were dangerously released into the air by the normal action of Hennessy’s machine. The trial court ruled that, because Hennessey’s machine itself was not made with asbestos and…