Mahley
An asbestos lawsuit filed in Jefferson County has been transferred to a multidistrict litigation panel in Harris County.
As previously reported, Claudia Harper filed a lawsuit Jan. 18 in Jefferson County District Court against Sabine Towing and Transportation Co., Chromally American, Sequa Corp., Kirby Corp., Kirby Inland Marine and ExxonMobil, claiming her father died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos fibers throughout his career.
Court records show that notice of transfer was filed Feb. 16, stating that the case has been transferred to the court of Judge Mark Davidson, who presides over the asbestos MDL.
The case will be transferred back to Jefferson County once all pretrial litigation is completed.
Harper alleges her father, James Wesley Clark Jr., worked as a seaman for Sabine from 1942 until 1973. During his employment, Clark was exposed to asbestos, according to the complaint.
She blames the defendants for contributing to her father's death, saying they negligently designed vessels with unsafe materials containing asbestos, failed to design the vessels in such a way so as to protect Clark from exposure to asbestos, failed to design the vessels with proper warnings and failed to warn Clark of the dangers of asbestos exposure.
Jerry Easley and Bristol Baxley of Rome, Arata and Baxley in Pearland and Andrew McEnaney and Matthew Hull of Hissey and Kientz in Austin will be representing her.
Houston attorney William Mahley of Strassburger & Price LLP, who filed the notice of transfer, represents Sabine Towing and Transportation Co., Chromally American and Sequa Corp.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, was originally assigned to the case.
Case No. B191-671