Bloomberg Law
Nov. 20, 2014, 5:00 AM

Crane Co. Pleads Federal Contractor Defense;
Asbestos Suit Stays in Federal Court

An asbestos failure-to-warn suit brought by the widow of a sailor against parts manufacturer Crane Co. stemming from exposure on U.S. Navy vessels belongs in federal court because the company made a sufficient showing of a viable federal contractor defense, the Second Circuit ruled (Cuomo v. Crane Co., 2014 BL 319480, 2d. Cir., 13-CV-4510).

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Nov. 13 reversed a federal trial court’s decision to remand the case to state court for failing to raise a colorable federal contractor defense.

Susan Cuomo filed state tort claims against Crane Co. and ...