GORTON v. AIR & LIQUID SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Civ. Action No. 1:17-1110.

RHONDA J. GORTON, Personal Representative for the Estate of THOMAS D. GORTON, II, and in her own right, Plaintiff, v. Air & Liquid Systems Corporation As Successor-by-Merger to Buffalo Pumps, et al., Defendants.

United States District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania.

February 20, 2019.

Editors Note
Applicable Law: 28 U.S.C. § 1446
Cause: 28 U.S.C. § 1446 Petition for Removal - Personal Injury
Nature of Suit: 368 P.I. : Asbestos
Source: PACER


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Thomas D. Gorton, II, Plaintiff, represented by Jason B. Duncan , Law Offices of Peter Angelos, P.C., Lamont G. McClure , Law Office of Peter G. Angelos, PC & Dennis F. Wolford , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC.

Rhonda J. Gorton, Plaintiff, represented by Jason B. Duncan , Law Offices of Peter Angelos, P.C. & Lamont G. McClure , Law Office of Peter G. Angelos, PC.

Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, As Successor-by-Merger to Buffalo Pumps, Defendant, represented by John A. Fitzpatrick , Wilbraham, Lawler & Buba.

Aurora Pump Company, Defendant, represented by James P. Hadden , Maron, Marvel, Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC.

Borgwarner Morse TEC, Defendant, represented by A. Kai Seelaus , Barnard Mezzanotte Pinnie and Seelaus LLP, pro hac vice.

CBS Corporation, A Delaware Corporation, Successor-by-Merger to CBS Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation, Defendant, represented by John Patrick McShea, III , McShea Law Firm, PC & Conrad O. Kattner , McShea Tecce, P.C.

Cooper Industries, Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to Crouse Hinds Co. & Eaton Corporation, As Successor-in-Interest to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Defendants, represented by Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

Crane Company & The Okonite Company, Defendants, represented by G. Daniel Bruch , Swartz Campbell LLC, Lauren E. Burke , Swartz Campbell LLC & Peter L. Lejeune , Swartz Campbell, LLC.

Essex Group, subsidiary of United Technologies, Defendant, represented by Timothy J. Chiappetta , Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. & Tiffany F. Turner , Dickie McCarney & Chilcote.

Fairmont Supply Company, formerly known as Fairmont Machinery Company, Defendant, represented by Edward R. Paul , Paul, Flandreau & Berger, LLP.

Ford Motor Company, Defendant, represented by Julie S. Greenberg , Duane Morris, LLP, Sharon L. Caffrey , Duane Morris LLP & Sean M. Marotta , Hogan Lovells US LLP, pro hac vice.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Defendant, represented by John C. McMeekin, II , Rawle & Henderson, LLP.

Goulds Pumps, Inc., Defendant, represented by Nathan J. Andrisani , Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Greene, Tweed & Company, Inc., Defendant, represented by Dennis F. Wolford , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC & Kathryn L. Johnston , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC.

GTE Products of Connecticut Corporation, As Successor-in-Interest to Clark Control, Inc., Defendant, represented by Edward T. Finch , Lavin, O'Neil, Cedrone & Disipio.

HB Fuller Company, formerly known as Benjamin Foster, Defendant, represented by George S. Bobnak , Christie & Young PC.

Honeywell International, Inc., Successor to Allied-Signal, Inc., Successor to Bendix Corporation, Defendant, represented by Peter J. Neeson , Rawle & Henderson, LLP & Scott F. Griffith , Rawle & Henderson LLP.

IMO Industries, Inc., Individually and as Parent Company of an/or Successor to DeLaval Pump & Steam Turbine Co., Defendant, represented by Joseph I. Fontak , Leader & Berkon LLP.

Ingersoll-Rand Company, Zurn Industries, LLC, Subsidiary of U.S. Industries, Inc. & Terex Corporation, Individually and as Parent Company of American Crane and as Parent Company of Lorain Crane, Defendants, represented by Daniel J. Ryan, Jr. , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin & Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

John Crane, Inc., formerly known as Crane Packing Company, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. & Lockheed Martin Corporation, Defendants, represented by Tiffany F. Turner , Dickie McCarney & Chilcote.

The Kerite Company, A division of the Marmon Group, LLC & RSCC Wire & Cable, Inc., agent of Rockbestos-Suprenant Corp., Defendants, represented by Tiffany J. Giangiulio , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin & Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

McCormick Asbestos Company, also known as MCIC & Pfizer, Inc., Defendants, represented by Thomas P. Hanna , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, LLP, pro hac vice & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc., Defendant, represented by Stewart R. Singer , Salmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi, LLP & Ronald L. Daugherty , Salmon Ricchezza Singer & Turchi LLP.

Mobil Corporation, Parent of Mobil Oil Corporation, Defendant, represented by C. James Zeszutek , Dinsmore & Shohl LLP & David J. Singley , Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.

Morgan Engineering, formerly known as Morgan Crane, Defendant, represented by Joseph Cagnoli, Jr. , Goldberg Segalla.

Reunion Industries, Inc., formerly known as Alliance Machines, Defendant, represented by Sean R. Riley , LitchField Cavo LLP.

Schneider Electric, formerly known as Square D Company, Defendant, represented by W. Matthew Reber , Kelley Jasons McGuire Spinelli & Hanna, LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

General Electric Company, Defendant, represented by John Patrick McShea, III , McShea Law Firm, PC.

Rhonda J. Gorton, Amicus, represented by Jason B. Duncan , Law Offices of Peter Angelos, P.C.

CBS Corporation, A Delaware Corporation, Successor-by-Merger to CBS Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation, Cross Claimant, represented by John Patrick McShea, III , McShea Law Firm, PC & Conrad O. Kattner , McShea Tecce, P.C.

Aurora Pump Company, Cross Defendant, represented by James P. Hadden , Maron, Marvel, Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC.

Borgwarner Morse TEC, Cross Defendant, represented by A. Kai Seelaus , Barnard Mezzanotte Pinnie and Seelaus LLP, pro hac vice & A. Kai Seelaus , Barnard Mezzanotte Pinnie and Seelaus LLP.

Crane Company, Cross Defendant, represented by G. Daniel Bruch , Swartz Campbell LLC, Lauren E. Burke , Swartz Campbell LLC, G. Daniel Bruch , Swartz Campbell LLC, pro hac vice & Peter L. Lejeune , Swartz Campbell, LLC.

Essex Group, subsidiary of United Technologies, Cross Defendant, represented by Timothy J. Chiappetta , Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. & Tiffany F. Turner , Dickie McCarney & Chilcote.

Fairmont Supply Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Edward R. Paul , Paul, Flandreau & Berger, LLP.

Ford Motor Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Julie S. Greenberg , Duane Morris, LLP, Sharon L. Caffrey , Duane Morris LLP, Sean M. Marotta , Hogan Lovells US LLP, pro hac vice & Sean M. Marotta , Hogan Lovells US LLP.

GTE Products of Connecticut Corporation, As Successor-in-Interest to Clark Control, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Edward T. Finch , Lavin, O'Neil, Cedrone & Disipio.

Goulds Pumps, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Nathan J. Andrisani , Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Greene, Tweed & Company, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Dennis F. Wolford , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC & Kathryn L. Johnston , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC.

Honeywell International, Inc., Successor to Allied-Signal, Inc., Successor to Bendix Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by Peter J. Neeson , Rawle & Henderson, LLP, Scott F. Griffith , Rawle & Henderson LLP & Peter J. Neeson , Rawle & Henderson, LLP, pro hac vice.

IMO Industries, Inc., Individually and as Parent Company of an/or Successor to DeLaval Pump & Steam Turbine Co., Cross Defendant, represented by Joseph I. Fontak , Leader & Berkon LLP.

Ingersoll-Rand Company, Terex Corporation, Individually and as Parent Company of American Crane and Lorain Crane, Zurn Industries, LLC, Subsidiary of U.S. Industries, Inc. & Terex Corporation, Individually and as Parent Company of American Crane and as Parent Company of Lorain Crane, Cross Defendants, represented by Daniel J. Ryan, Jr. , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin & Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Stewart R. Singer , Salmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi, LLP & Ronald L. Daugherty , Salmon Ricchezza Singer & Turchi LLP.

Mobil Corporation, Parent of Mobil Oil Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by C. James Zeszutek , Dinsmore & Shohl LLP & David J. Singley , Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.

Pfizer, Inc. & McCormick Asbestos Company, Cross Defendants, represented by Thomas P. Hanna , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, LLP, pro hac vice, Thomas P. Hanna , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

RSCC Wire & Cable, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin & Tiffany J. Giangiulio , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin.

Reunion Industries, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Sean R. Riley , LitchField Cavo LLP.

Schneider Electric, Cross Defendant, represented by W. Matthew Reber , Kelley Jasons McGuire Spinelli & Hanna, LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Cross Defendant, represented by John C. McMeekin, II , Rawle & Henderson, LLP.

The Kerite Company, A division of the Marmon Group, LLC, Cross Defendant, represented by Tiffany J. Giangiulio , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin & Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

The Okonite Company, Cross Defendant, represented by G. Daniel Bruch , Swartz Campbell LLC, Lauren E. Burke , Swartz Campbell LLC & Peter L. Lejeune , Swartz Campbell, LLC.

John Crane, Inc., Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. & Lockheed Martin Corporation, Cross Claimants, represented by Tiffany F. Turner , Dickie McCarney & Chilcote.

CBS Corporation, A Delaware Corporation, Successor-by-Merger to CBS Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by John Patrick McShea, III , McShea Law Firm, PC & Conrad O. Kattner , McShea Tecce, P.C.

HB Fuller Company, Cross Defendant, represented by George S. Bobnak , Christie & Young PC.

Morgan Engineering, Cross Defendant, represented by Joseph Cagnoli, Jr. , Goldberg Segalla.

HB Fuller Company, Cross Claimant, represented by George S. Bobnak , Christie & Young PC.

John Crane, Inc., Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. & Lockheed Martin Corporation, Cross Defendants, represented by Tiffany F. Turner , Dickie McCarney & Chilcote.

Schneider Electric, Cross Claimant, represented by W. Matthew Reber , Kelley Jasons McGuire Spinelli & Hanna, LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

Mobil Corporation, Parent of Mobil Oil Corporation, Cross Claimant, represented by C. James Zeszutek , Dinsmore & Shohl LLP & David J. Singley , Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.

Nevada Bell Telephone Company, c/o The Corporation Trust Company of Nevada, Cross Defendant, represented by John A. Turlik , Segal, McCambridge, Singer & Mahoney, Ltd.

Zurn Industries, LLC, Subsidiary of U.S. Industries, Inc., Counterclaim Defendant, represented by Daniel J. Ryan, Jr. , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin.

General Electric Company, Cross Claimant, represented by John Patrick McShea, III , McShea Law Firm, PC.

Pfizer, Inc. & McCormick Asbestos Company, Cross Claimants, represented by Thomas P. Hanna , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

General Electric Company, Cross Defendant, represented by John Patrick McShea, III , McShea Law Firm, PC.

Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, As Successor-by-Merger to Buffalo Pumps, Cross Defendant, represented by John A. Fitzpatrick , Wilbraham, Lawler & Buba.

Aurora Pump Company, Cross Claimant, represented by James P. Hadden , Maron, Marvel, Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC.

Greene, Tweed & Company, Inc., Cross Claimant, represented by Dennis F. Wolford , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC & Kathryn L. Johnston , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC.

Crane Company, Cross Claimant, represented by G. Daniel Bruch , Swartz Campbell LLC & Lauren E. Burke , Swartz Campbell LLC.

The Okonite Company, Cross Claimant, represented by G. Daniel Bruch , Swartz Campbell LLC.

Ingersoll-Rand Company, Zurn Industries, LLC, Subsidiary of U.S. Industries, Inc. & Terex Corporation, Individually and as Parent Company of American Crane and as Parent Company of Lorain Crane, Cross Claimants, represented by Daniel J. Ryan, Jr. , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin & Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

McCormick Asbestos Company, c/o Remanining Director Trustees Louis E. Grenzer, Jr., Cross Defendant, represented by Thomas P. Hanna , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

IMO Industries, Inc., Individually and as Parent Company of an/or Successor to DeLaval Pump & Steam Turbine Co., Cross Claimant, represented by Joseph I. Fontak , Leader & Berkon LLP.

GTE Products of Connecticut Corporation, As Successor-in-Interest to Clark Control, Inc., Cross Claimant, represented by Edward T. Finch , Lavin, O'Neil, Cedrone & Disipio.

Cooper Industries, Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to Crouse Hinds Co., Cross Claimant, represented by Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

The Kerite Company, A division of the Marmon Group, LLC & RSCC Wire & Cable, Inc., Cross Claimants, represented by Tiffany J. Giangiulio , Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin & Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

Cooper Industries, Individually and as Successor-in-Interest to Crouse Hinds Co. & Eaton Corporation, As Successor-in-Interest to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Cross Defendants, represented by Joan P. Depfer , Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin.

Essex Group, subsidiary of United Technologies, Cross Claimant, represented by Tiffany F. Turner , Dickie McCarney & Chilcote & Timothy J. Chiappetta , Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Cross Claimant, represented by John C. McMeekin, II , Rawle & Henderson, LLP.

Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, As Successor-by-Merger to Buffalo Pumps, Cross Claimant, represented by John A. Fitzpatrick , Wilbraham, Lawler & Buba.

Georgia-Pacific, LLC, Cross Defendant, represented by Kevin J. O'Brien , Marks, O'Neill, O'Brien, Doherty & Kelly, PC.

Foseco, Inc. & Industrial Holdings Corporation, Cross Defendants, represented by Carolyn A. Williams , Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC & Walter S. Jenkins , Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC.

Union Carbide Corporation & Bayer Cropscience, LP, As Successor-in-interest to Amchem Products, Inc., Cross Defendants, represented by Catherine N. Jasons , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber LLP & Christina M. Rideout , Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli & Hanna, L.L.P.

Universal Refractories, A Division of Thiem Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by John J. Dugan , Salmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi, LLP.

Columbus McKinnon Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by Jennifer A. McGarrity , Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC & William F. Kiniry, Jr. , DLA Piper LLP.

Honeywell International, Inc., Successor to Allied-Signal, Inc., Successor to Bendix Corporation, Cross Claimant, represented by Peter J. Neeson , Rawle & Henderson, LLP & Scott F. Griffith , Rawle & Henderson LLP.

Corhart Refractories Co. & Corhart Refractories Co., c/o Corporation Service Company, Cross Defendants, represented by Thomas J. Johanson .

Foster-Wheeler Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by Leah A. Lewis , Reilly Janiczek McDevitt Henrich & Cholden, PC & Leroy J. Janiczek , Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.

J.H. France Refractories Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Damian S. Jackson , Reilly, McDevitt & Henrich, PC, Vincent F. Reilly , Reilly, Janiczek, McDevitt, Henrich & Cholden, P.C., Leah A. Lewis , Reilly Janiczek McDevitt Henrich & Cholden, PC, Leroy J. Janiczek , Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP & Susan M. Valinis , Reilly Janiczek McDevitt Henrich & Cholden, PC.

A.O. Smith Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by Eric J. Kadish , Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC.

Cleaver Brooks, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Leah A. Lewis , Reilly Janiczek McDevitt Henrich & Cholden, PC & Susan M. Valinis , Reilly Janiczek McDevitt Henrich & Cholden, PC.

Rhonda J. Gorton, Cross Defendant, represented by Jason B. Duncan , Law Offices of Peter Angelos, P.C.

Thomas D. Gorton, II, Cross Defendant, represented by Jason B. Duncan , Law Offices of Peter Angelos, P.C., Lamont G. McClure , Law Office of Peter G. Angelos, PC & Dennis F. Wolford , Reed, Tosh, Wolford & Douglass, PC.

Keeler/Dorr-Oliver Boiler Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Lina M. Carreras , Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC & Walter S. Jenkins , Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC.


OPINION

I. Introduction

Plaintiff Rhonda J. Gorton ("Mrs. Gorton"), as a personal representative for the Estate of Thomas D. Gorton, II, and for herself,1 filed an amended complaint against defendants Ford Motor Company ("Ford") and AT&T Corp. among numerous...

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