Harville v. Yarway Corp.

JOHNSON, Circuit Judge:

This case involves the question whether the maritime jurisdiction of the federal courts encompasses damage claims by land-based ship repair workers against manufacturers and distributors of asbestos products for injuries allegedly induced by *777exposure to air-borne asbestos fibres. We hold that, because the plaintiffs’ claims have insufficient nexus to the traditional concerns of maritime law and because exercise of federal maritime jurisdiction would not advance the policies behind a uniform federal law of admiralty, maritime jurisdiction does not extend to these claims.

I…