Washington State Supreme Court
At issue is whether a product manufacturer can be held liable for failing to warn about hazardous products used by others in combination with its products. Here, the products are valves that were sold to the Navy for use on ships. The Navy covered the valves in asbestos insulation. In a published opinion, the Washington Court of Appeals held Yarway could be held liable for failing to warn about the asbestos put on the product post-sale by the Navy. If this broad duty is upheld, it would not only expand asbestos liability but could expand product liability duty to warn for others as well.
Status: PENDING. Amicus brief filed June 29, 2007.
