W.R. Grace & Co. v. Waters
Florida Supreme Court
638 So. 2d 502 (1994)
- Written by Josh Lee, JD
Facts
Thomas Waters and his wife (plaintiffs) sued W.R. Grace & Company (Grace) (defendant) based on Waters’s development of asbestosis due to exposure to asbestos in Grace’s products while Waters was working. Grace filed a pretrial motion for partial summary judgment on the issue of punitive damages, arguing that Grace had already been subject to punitive-damages awards in other jurisdictions arising out of asbestos in its products. The trial court granted the motion. The district court of appeal reversed the grant of summary judgment and remanded the issue of punitive damages for trial, but certified to the Florida Supreme Court the question of whether allowing punitive-damages awards against a defendant who had already been subject to punitive damages for the same course of conduct was inappropriate.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Grimes, C.J.)
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