Cassiar Mining Corp. v. Superior Court

Brayton Harley & Curtis, Philip A. Harley, Novato, and James L. Oberman, Hercules, for Real Parties in Interest.

CROSBY, Associate Justice.

For some 40 years, Cassiar Mining Corporation, a Canadian company, admittedly sold thousands of tons of raw asbestos fiber directly to California manufacturers who incorporated the asbestos into finished products. California workers allegedly were exposed to these asbestos fibers here, thereby sustaining progressive lung diseases. They claim Cassiar failed to adequately warn of the health risks.

We apply the Supreme Court's decision in Vons Companies, Inc. v. Seabest Foods, Inc. (1996) 14 Cal.4th 434 , 58 Cal.Rptr.2d 899 , 926 P.2d 1085 to find sufficient contacts to justify the exercise of specific jurisdiction. The instant litigation results from injuries "related to" Cassiar's forum activities of selling asbestos to certain companies located in California.

Cassiar argues there is no "evidence of record" that plaintiffs were actually exposed to the asbestos fibers it sold in California or sustained injury as a result. Following Vons we will not impose such a strict causation burden for jurisdictional purposes, nor will we require a…