Opinion ID: 1955935
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cartwright

Text: Robert Cartwright worked at B & W from 1960 to 1984. From 1960 to 1983 he worked at Hot Mill in the Main Plant at Beaver Falls. He worked as a crane operator, as a millwright for one to two years in the mid 1960's and a a checker in the early 1960's. In his deposition, Cartwright indicated that he worked as a crane operator from 1960-1978 and also in the labor pool during that time. The labor pool work was once a day every couple of months. He also stated that he worked at the Cold Finish at the Ambridge facility in the same capacities. Mr. Cartwright was diagnosed as having asbestosis and he and his wife brought claims against a number of defendants asserting that he suffered harm due to exposure to asbestos from products they manufactured or supplied. In the instant action, appellants appeal the grant of summary judgments to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, H.K. Porter Company, GAF Corporation, Celotex Corporation, Armstrong World Industries, Eagle-Picher Industries, Gateway Industrial Supplies, and A-Best Products. We affirm the grant of summary judgment as to Eagle-Picher, Armstrong, Owens-Corning, and H.K. Porter as the only evidence offered by appellants to establish that the products at issue contained asbestos are affidavits stating that the products were resistant to high temperatures and/or other tradesmen stated they were asbestos, and the presence of lists of names in answer to interrogatories. See discussion supra. We affirm the grant of summary judgment as to A-Best, Gateway, GAF and Celotex because these appellants, like the previous appellants, have failed to adduce evidence that would establish regular exposure of Cartwright to the products in question. As with the other appellants, the Cartwrights rely upon the depositions of Capots and Young and the affidavit of Betke to establish the necessary connection between A-Best, Gateway, GAF and Celotex with the injured appellant. Their statements establish a general or possible presence of these products but do not provide a sufficient nexus of frequent exposure in regular proximity to the plaintiff. Likewise the additional deposition of Terry Bingle does nothing more to establish a specific nexus between Cartwright's harm and A-Best and Gateway products than do those of Young or Capots. We address one last matter in this case. Appellee Owens-Corning has filed a motion for attorney's fees against appellants based on the allegedly frivolous nature of appellants' effort to supplement the record. We cannot address Owens-Corning's claim at this point as it has been prematurely raised. See Pa.R.A.P. 2744, 2751. We observe, however, that on the record and arguments now present before us, we would be disinclined to grant an award for attorney's fees or costs against appellants. In sum, we affirm all three orders granting judgment in favor of appellees. ROWLEY, J., files a concurring statement. ROWLEY, Judge, concurring: I join in all but two provisions of the majority's thorough and well-reasoned Opinion. The first statement in which I do not join appears in footnote 6 (majority op. at 360), where the majority, after noting that we do not follow the trial courts' apparent rulings concerning the admissibility of the testimony of tradesmen, proceeds to enumerate the circumstances under which we would find the evidence sufficient. . . . The second statement is the observation that while Owens-Corning's claim for attorney's fees has been prematurely raised, we would be disinclined to grant an award for attorney's fees or costs against appellants (majority op. at 362). As we are not required to resolve either of these issues at this point, I would postpone their resolution until such time as they are properly before this Court.