Computer Duster Makers Escape Claims Tied to Inhalation Death

The family of a Kansas man who died after inhaling difluoroethane gas from computer duster cans lost a bid to pursue products liability and wrongful death claims against the cans’ manufacturers after a federal appeals court held that a state law against inhalation abuse shielded them from liability.

The Kansas Product Liability Act allows illegality as an affirmative defense, and “there is nothing in Kansas statute or caselaw to suggest the illegality defense was implicitly abrogated” in this case, Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich wrote Wednesday for the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Robbin Messerli sued leading computer ...