Minnesota Court of Appeals: Asbestos Cases

Our case-law library holds 12 asbestos decisions from the Minnesota Court of Appeals (1989–2025). Each links to our summary and the full opinion.

• State: Minnesota
• Kind of court: State appeals court

Decisions

• Anderson v. AH Bennett Company (2025). The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's denial of summary judgment for Waldorf (Westrock) against the Andersons and remanded, because fact issues remain about whether Mr. Anderson was significantly exposed to asbestos while employed by Waldorf.
• Backe v. AW Kuettel & Sons, Inc. (2020). The Court of Appeals of Minnesota affirmed the denial of Conwed Corporation's motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, so the Backes' asbestos claims against Conwed continue in Minnesota.
• Palmer v. Walker Jamar Company (2019). The court affirmed summary judgment for Honeywell on limitations grounds and the dismissal of the claims against Walker Jamar for insufficient service of process, so the plaintiff Deborah Palmer lost both appeals.
• Conda v. Honeywell International, Inc. (2018). The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment for Jenella Conda (trustee for the heirs of Ronald Conda) against Honeywell International, rejecting Honeywell's challenges to the expert testimony, the special-verdict form, the misconduct ruling and the fault reallocation.
• Rock v. Bucyrus Int'l (In re Minnesota Asbestos Litigation) (2009). The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's denial of Bucyrus International's motion to quash a commission for presuit discovery, ruling for respondent Joyce Rock and against Bucyrus.
• Newinski v. John Crane, Inc. (2009). The Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of John Crane's new-trial motion but reversed the district court's reallocation of the non-party entities' share, and remanded for entry of judgment against Crane for the whole award less the Pierringer-released defendants' 20% share, which favored the Newinskis.
• James v. 3M Corporation (2008). The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the district court's denial of Ainsworth-Benning's motion to dismiss, holding Minnesota lacked personal jurisdiction over the South Dakota company, so Ainsworth won and Von St. James lost on that motion.
• Strand v. Allied Insulation Supply Co. (2007). The Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of General Pipe Covering's third-party contribution claims against Quality Insulation and Econ Insulation, so Quality and Econ won and General Pipe lost.
• Duffy v. American Standard, Inc. (2006). The Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of summary judgment to Scheid/HiMEC, holding they had not shown a common enterprise with Hormel, so the Duffys could proceed with their suit.
• Bunce v. Api, Inc. (2005). The Court of Appeals reversed the denial of summary judgment, holding that A.P.I., having signed a Pierringer release with Bunce, could not pursue contribution or indemnity claims against the non-settling third-party defendants (Illinois Tool Works, Turner Construction, Gagnon, Azco, Insulation Sales, Egan Companies).
• Tester v. American Standard, Inc. (1999). The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment for Owens-Corning Fiberglas and MacArthur Company, ruling that Tester, found more at fault than each of them, could not recover from either.
• Kath v. Burlington Northern R. Co. (1989). The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment for Eileen Kath against Burlington Northern Railroad, rejecting the railroad's challenges to the jury instructions, verdict form, Schwartz hearing denial, damages and evidence rulings.