Opinion ID: 548350
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Products of Allied-Signal, Inc. (successor to Bendix) (Allied/Bendix)

Text: 44 Frank K. Elliott, Jr., a mechanic, testified in his deposition that pneumatic brakes with asbestos-containing linings were used on truck-tire building machines during the period from 1946 to 1976. Brake housings were impressed with the word Bendix. Bendix shipping slips accompanied replacement assemblies. Overhead cranes in two departments used Bendix brakes. Elliott performed brake repairs on bias machines in Plaintiff Moyer's presence at least 25 times between 1975 and 1980 but Elliott was unable to identify the manufacturer of the brake linings. Elliott made one repair of a Bendix brake in the presence of Plaintiff Yourkavitch. 45 Edward J. Brunke, a maintenance foreman, testified that Bendix brakes were used on electric motors on the calendars from 1957 to 1959. 46 Frank K. Leininger, Jr., a mechanic, testified that Bendix brake linings were used on Spadone cutters from 1967 to 1980 and that the brake linings contained asbestos. 47 Paul A. Guthrie, a mechanic, testified that the name Bendix was impressed on the brake housing of forklift trucks. 48 Allied's response to the evidence presented--Firestone's records reveal no purchases from Bendix or its successor, Allied-Signal. Even if there were a small number of Bendix brake linings used at Firestone, records showed that substantially all of the brake linings used in the plant were manufactured by Raybestos-Manhattan. This was uncontroverted. Allied contended that the testimony offered failed to connect Bendix products to any of the eight plaintiffs with the exception of one instance in which a new Bendix brake was installed in Mr. Moyer's presence. Allied argues that the testimony did not show that a Bendix brake had been removed from the machine under repair. Allied also stated that Bendix on the brake housings did not establish that Bendix had been the manufacturer of the brake linings. 49