Caterpillar Wins Reversal of Jury’s $1.7M Asbestos Award

Caterpillar Inc. won reversal of $1.7 million asbestos exposure jury award in favor of the estate of a mechanic.

The ruling can’t stand because the estate of George Cooney failed to show how often he was exposed to asbestos through his work on Caterpillar’s forklifts, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division said March 28.

The estate alleged Cooney was exposed to asbestos as a result of his work changing brakes, clutches, and gaskets on Caterpillar’s forklifts, as well as on forklifts of other manufacturers.

Cooney’s deposition statement that he worked on Caterpillar forklifts "[a] lot” didn’t establish frequency of ...