Simpson v. Pittsburgh Corning Corp.

JON O. NEWMAN, Circuit Judge:

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s suggestion that the imposition of some punitive damages awards may violate the Due Process Clause, see Browning-Ferris Industries of Vermont, Inc. v. Kelco Disposal, Inc., — U.S.-, 109 S.Ct. 2909, 2921 & n. 23, 106 L.Ed.2d 219 (1989), we have repeatedly been asked to rule that successive punitive damages awards in asbestos cases are unconstitutional. See, e.g., Johnson v. Celotex Corp., 899 F.2d 1281 (2d Cir.1990); Racich v. Celotex Corp., 887 F.2d 393, 397-99 (2d Cir.1989). Thus far, we have declined to adjudicate the due…