Frastaci v. Vapor Corp.

Opinion

REARDON, J.

I. INTRODUCTION

In this appeal, the survivors of a railroad worker seek to overturn a judgment dismissing their state tort claims against locomotive manufacturer Vapor Corporation (Vapor) for asbestos-related injuries. The dismissal followed the trial court’s sustaining Vapor’s demurrer without leave to amend, on the grounds of federal preemption under the Locomotive Boiler Inspection Act (49 U.S.C. § 20701 et seq.; hereafter BIA), as discussed in Scheiding v. General Motors Corp. (2000) 22 Cal.4th 471 [93 Cal.Rptr.2d 342, 993 P.2d 996], certiorori denied (2000) 531 U.S. 958…