Court Opinion

ID: 9954327
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-25 21:11:30.199811+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:12:04.607446
License: Public Domain

Silviano v A.O. Smith Water Prods. Co.
               2024 NY Slip Op 30902(U)
                     March 18, 2024
            Supreme Court, New York County
        Docket Number: Index No. 190242/2019
                  Judge: Adam Silvera
Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip
 Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York
 State and local government sources, including the New
  York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service.
 This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official
                       publication.
                                                                                               INDEX NO. 190242/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 521                                                                    RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/19/2024

                           SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
                                     NEW YORK COUNTY
           PRESENT:       HON. ADAM SILVERA                                PART                              13
                                                                 Justice
                                       ·-----------------X                 INDEX NO.          190242/2019
            JO-ANN SILVIANO AS EXECUTRIX FOR THE ESTATE OF
            KENNETH LAST,                                                  MOTION DATE        01/17/2024

                                              Plaintiff,                   MOTION SEQ. NO.         007

                                      - V -

            A.O. SMITH WATER PRODUCTS CO., AIR & LIQUID
            SYSTEMS CORPORATION,         AS SUCCESSOR-BY-
            MERGER TO BUFFALO PUMPS, INC, AMCHEM
            PRODUCTS, INC.,     N/K/A RHONE POULENC AG
            COMPANY,      N/K/A BAYER CROPSCIENCE
            INC.,AMERICAN BILTRITE INC.,ARCONIC, INC, AURORA
            PUMP COMPANY, BIRD INCORPORATED, BLACKMER,
            BORGWARNER MORSE TEC LLC,BURNHAM, LLC,
            INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS SUCCESSOR TO          BURNHAM
            CORPORATION, BW/IP, INC. AND ITS WHOLLY OWNED
            SUBSIDIARIES, CBS CORPORATION, F/K/A VIACOM
            INC., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO          CBS
            CORPORATION, F/K/A WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC
            CORPORATION, CERTAINTEED CORPORATION,
            COMPUDYNE CORPORATION,          INDIVIDUALLY, AND
            AS SUCCESSOR TO YORK SHIPLEY, INC.,CRANE CO,
            CROWN BOILER CO.,       F/K/A CROWN INDUSTRIES,
            INC.,DAP, INC.,DOMCO PRODUCTS TEXAS,
            INC.,FLOWSERVE US, INC. SOLELY AS SUCCESSOR                      DECISION + ORDER ON
            TO ROCKWELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY,                                      MOTION
            EDWARD VALVE, INC.,NORDSTROM VALVES,
            INC.,EDWARD VOGT VALVE COMPANY, AND VOGT
            VALVE COMPANY, FMC CORPORATION,           ON BEHALF
            OF ITS FORMER CHICAGO PUMP          & NORTHERN
            PUMP BUSINESSES, FORT KENT HOLDINGS, INC.,
            FORMERLY KNOWN AS DUNHAM-BUSH, INC.,FOSTER
            WHEELER, L.L.C., GARDNER DENVER, INC.,GENERAL
            ELECTRIC COMPANY, GOULDS PUMPS LLC,GRINNELL
            LLC,HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC., F/K/A ALLIED
            SIGNAL, INC./ BENDIX, IMO INDUSTRIES, INC.,,
            INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY,          INDIVIDUALLY
            AND AS SUCCESSOR TO CHAMPION
            INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, AS SUCCESSOR
            TO UNITED STATES PLYWOOD CORPORATION, ITT
            INDUSTRIES, INC.     INDIVIDUALLY AND AS
            SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO HOFFMAN
            SPECIALTY, ITT LLC., INDIVIDUALLY AND AS
            SUCCESSOR TO BELL & GOSSETT AND AS
            SUCCESSOR TO KENNEDY VALVE          MANUFACTURING
            CO., INC.,J-M MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC,

            190242/2019 LAST, KENNETH vs. A.O. SMITH WATER PRODUCTS CO.,                       Page 1 of 5
            Motion No. 007

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                                                                                                    INDEX NO. 190242/2019
  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 521                                                                       RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/19/2024

            KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC.,KOHLER CO.,
            LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC, MANNINGTON
            MILLS, INC.,MARIO & DIBONO PLASTERING CO., INC,
            MORSE DIESEL, INC, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP. AS
            SUCCESSOR TO GEORGE A FULLER COMPANY,
            PEERLESS INDUSTRIES, INC, PFIZER, INC. (PFIZER),
            PNEUMO ABEX LLC,SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO
            ABEX CORPORATION (ABEX), PORT AUTHORITY OF
            NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, RHEEM
            MANUFACTURING COMPANY, SLANT/FIN
            CORPORATION, SPIRAX SARCO, INC. INDIVIDUALLY
            AND AS SUCCESSOR TO SARCO COMPANY, TISHMAN
            LIQUIDATING CORP, TISHMAN REALTY &
            CONSTRUCTION CO., INC, TURNER CONSTRUCTION
            COMPANY, U.S. RUBBER COMPANY (UNIROYAL),
            UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION, UTICA BOILERS, INC.,
            INDIVIDUALLY AND AS SUCCESSOR TO        UTICA
            RADIATOR CORPORATION, VELAN VALVE
            CORPORATION, VIKING PUMP, INC, WARREN PUMPS,
            LLC,WEIL-MCLAIN, A DIVISION OF THE MARLEY-
            WYLAIN COMPANY, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY
            OF THE MARLEY COMPANY, LLC,WEYERHAEUSER
            COMPANY, IPA SYSTEMS, INC.,

                                             Defendant.
           ---------------------------                ----------------X

           The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 007) 496, 497, 498, 499,
           500,502,503,504,505,506,507,510,511,512,515,516,517,518,519,520
           were read on this motion to/for                           CONSOLIDATE/JOIN FOR TRIAL

                   Upon the foregoing documents, it is ordered that plaintiffs order to show cause seeking a

           joint trial is granted for the reasons set forth below.

                   Here, plaintiff moves for a joint trial of two actions. Plaintiff seeks to consolidate the

           instant action with Joyce v AO Smith l+'ater Products Co .. el al., 190173/2020. Defendants

           oppose and plaintiff replies.

                   The Case Management Order dated June 20, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as the "CMO")

           states that "[t]wo cases may be joined for trial where plaintiff demonstrates that joinder is

           warranted under Malcolm v National Gypsum Co. (995 F2d 346), and New York State cases

           interpreting Malcolm. Malcolm and its progeny list factors to measure whether cases should be

            190242/2019 LAST, KENNETH vs. A.O. SMITH WATER PRODUCTS CO.,                            Page 2 of 5
            Motion No. 007

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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 521                                                                        RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/19/2024

           joined; it is not necessary under i\,Jalcolm that all such factors be present to warrantjoinder."

           CMO, § XXV. B. The factors to be considered under Malcolm are "(l) common worksites; (2)

           similar occupation; (3) similar time of exposure; (4) type of disease; (5) whether plaintiffs were

           living or deceased; (6) status of discovery in each case; (7) whether all plaintiffs were

           represented by the same counsel; and (8) type of cancer alleged". Malcolm, 955 F2d at 350-351.

           The United States Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, further noted that "[c]onsolidation of tort

           actions sharing common questions of law and fact is commonplace. This is true of asbestos-

           related personal injury cases as well." Malcolm, id. at 350 (internal quotations and citations

           omitted).

                   Plaintiff argues that consolidation of the cases for joint trial as specified above is

           appropriate. Plaintiff contends that both plaintiffs, Kenneth Last and Patrick Joyce, were exposed

           to asbestos during their employment as carpenters. Plaintiffs were also exposed during their work

           assisting auto mechanics, working on similar equipment, i.e. brakes and clutches. Plaintiff

           further contends that both plaintiffs developed plural mesothelioma and are deceased. Moreover,

           the discovery in both of these cases have been completed, and both plaintiffs are represented by

           the same counsel.

                   Defendants Union Carbide Corporation, Mario & DiBono Plastering Co., and Tishman

           Realty & Construction Co., Inc. oppose the instant motion, arguing that plaintiff failed to meet

           the burden to establish sufficient commonalities amongst the two actions. Specifically, opposing

           defendants contend that there is no commonality as to the plaintiffs' worksite, occupation, years

           of exposure, and defendants.

                   Here, reviewing all the Malcolm factors, the Court finds, and it is undisputed, that

           plaintiffs, Mr. Last and Mr. Joyce, were both exposed to asbestos through their employment as

            190242/2019 LAST, KENNETH vs. A.O. SMITH WATER PRODUCTS CO.,                            Page 3 of 5
            Motion No. 007

                                                            3 of 5
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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 521                                                                        RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/19/2024

           carpenters. Moreover, during significant portions of their career, Mr. Last and Mr. Joyce both

           worked assisting auto mechanics. Additionally, both plaintiffs developed pleural mesothelioma

           and are deceased. Furthermore, discovery in these actions is complete and the plaintiffs have the

           same counsel. Thus, seven of the eight Malcom factors have been satisfied.

                  There are common issues of law and fact in both actions. The CMO explicitly states that

           the Court may order joinder of cases based upon the Malcolm factors and that not all such factors

           must be present. Here, the Malcolm factors supportjoinder of the two actions. As Hon. Manuel

           Mendez previously held, "[j]udicial economy would be served by consolidating the actions of

           deceased plaintiffs with mesothelioma and whose exposure was related to their work on similar

           products .... In these case consolidations: (1) the central issue is the same; (2) it is the same

           Plaintiffs' counsel in the actions; (3) the Plaintiffs suffered from the same disease; (4) the

           Plaintiffs in the group are all deceased; and (5) the Plaintiffs were exposed .. .in a similar

           manner." Haley v ABB. Inc., 190150/19, mot. 008, dated December 11, 2019. As stated above,

           although the plaintiffs did not share common worksites, this does not preclude joinder of the

           cases for trial. Adequate safeguards can be put in place during the trial to avoid juror confusion.

           Thus, plaintiffs motion seeking a joint trial is granted as to the instant action with Joyce v A 0

           Smith Water Products        . er al., 190173/2020.

            Accordingly, it is

                   ORDERED that a joint trial is granted as to Last v AO Smith Water

           Products Co., et al., 190242/2019, and           v .AO Smith Water Products (       ct ul.,

           190173/2020; and it is further

                   ORDERED that, within thirty days of entry, plaintiffs shall serve a copy of this order

            190242/2019 LAST, KENNETH vs. A.O. SMITH WATER PRODUCTS CO.,                             Page 4 of 5
            Motion No. 007

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  NYSCEF DOC. NO. 521                                                                           RECEIVED NYSCEF: 03/19/2024

          upon all parties, together with notice of entry.

                   This constitutes the Decision/Order of the Court.

                   3/18/2024
                     DATE                                                          ADAM SILVERA, J.S.C.
            CHECK ONE:
                                       CASE DISPOSED                  ~ NON-FINAL DISPOSITION
                                                       0
                                                                                                    □
                                       GRANTED               DENIED        GRANTED IN PART              OTHER

            APPLICATION:               SETTLE ORDER                        SUBMIT ORDER

                                                                                                    □
            CHECK IF APPROPRIATE:      INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN          FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT        REFERENCE

            190242/2019 LAST, KENNETH vs. A.O. SMITH WATER PRODUCTS CO.,                             Page 5 of 5
            Motion No. 007

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