Aubin v. Union Carbide Corp.
Florida Supreme Court
177 So. 3d 489 (2015)
- Written by Liz Nakamura, JD
Facts
William Aubin (plaintiff), a construction supervisor, was unwittingly exposed to asbestos while using drywall joint compounds and ceiling texture sprays manufactured by Union Carbide Corporation (Union Carbide) (defendant). As a result, Aubin contracted malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, a terminal, incurable cancer. Aubin filed a strict-products-liability claim against Union Carbide, arguing that Union Carbide’s products were unreasonably dangerous as designed. After a jury trial, the trial court found Union Carbide liable and awarded Aubin approximately $14.2 million in damages. On appeal, the appellate court reversed, holding that the trial court had erred by applying the consumer-expectations test from the Restatement (Second) of Torts: Products Liability (the Second Restatement) instead of the risk-utility balancing test from the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability (the Third Restatement). Aubin appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Pariente, J.)
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