Viking Pump Faces California Shipyard Worker’s Asbestos Claims

Viking Pump Inc. must continue to defend asbestos claims by a California shipyard worker who alleges workplace exposure to the company’s parts.

Thomas Toy’s allegation that Viking distributed asbestos-containing products in California is enough for the Northern District of California to exercise jurisdiction over the case, the court said.

Viking failed to provide any evidence to support its theory that it more likely supplied its products to the U.S. Navy somewhere outside of California, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said May 16.

Because Viking didn’t contradict the allegations in the pleadings that it had put ...