Minnesota Supreme Court: Asbestos Cases

Our case-law library holds 5 asbestos decisions from the Minnesota Supreme Court (1982–2020). Each links to our summary and the full opinion.

• State: Minnesota
• Kind of court: State supreme court

Decisions

• Palmer v. Walker Jamar Company (2020). The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed the court of appeals and the grant of summary judgment for Honeywell, holding Deborah Palmer's wrongful death claim time-barred.
• Conwed v. Union Carbide Chem. and Plastics (2001). Answering five questions certified by the federal district court, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that Conwed may pursue subrogation only for identified employees with a compensable injury, including settled claims that may reopen, but not for employees without manifested disease or without a present duty to pay; it also held that Conwed may seek prejudgment interest from Union Carbide.
• 80 S. 8th St. Ltd. Ptsp. v. Carey-Canada (1992). Answering a certified question from the federal district court, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that the economic loss doctrine does not bar the building owner, 80 South Eighth, from suing W.R. Grace in tort for asbestos fireproofing maintenance, removal and replacement costs; it did not reach the other two questions.
• Crepeau BY Crepeau v. Krost Insulation Co. (1983). The court affirmed the workers' compensation award against Krost and its 1978 carrier Minnesota Mutual, but reversed the Court of Appeals' increase in dependency benefits and reinstated the compensation judge's lower dependency award for the widow.
• DeCosse v. Armstrong Cork Co. (1982). The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed the judgment for the asbestos defendants and remanded, holding the wrongful death limitation period can be tolled for fraudulent concealment, so the trustee for DeCosse's heirs may proceed.