Superior Court - BRUCE JOHNSON, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF THORNTON JOHNSON v. AMERICAN STANDARD, AMCHEM PRODUCTS, INC., A.W. CHESTERTON, INC., BE

BRUCE JOHNSON, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF THORNTON JOHNSON v. AMERICAN STANDARD, AMCHEM PRODUCTS, INC., A.W. CHESTERTON, INC., BENJAMIN FOSTER CO., BRAND INSULATIONS, BROWN BOVERI CORP., BURNHAM BOILER CORP., CERTAINTEED CORPORATION, CRANE CO., DEMMING DIVISION, CRANE PACKING, CROUSE-HINDS, CROWN CORK & SEAL, INC., DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC., EASTERN GUNNITE CO., INC., GEOGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION, GOULD PUMPS, INC., GREEN TWEED & COMPANY, INC., HAJOCA PLUMBING CO., INGERSOLL RAND CO., J.H. REFRACTORIES CO., METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE, NOSROC CORP., OWENS-ILLINOIS, INC., PECORA CORPORATION, RILEY STOKER CORPORATION, UNION CARBIDE CORP., WALTER B. GALLAGHER CO., WEIL MCLAIN CO., VIACOM/WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION, BONDEX INTERNATIONAL INC., CLEAVER BROOKS CO., DURABLA, DURAMETALLIC CORPORATION, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO.,GOODYEAR CANADA, INC., HERCULES CHEMICAL CO., HERMAN GOLDNER COMPANY, IMO INDUSTRIES, INC., ITT CORPORATION, MELRATH GASKET, INC., PARS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, RITE HOSE & PACKING, INC., ROCKBESTOS COMPANY, MCMASTER CARR SUPPLY HOUSE APPEAL OF: BRUCE JOHNSON DOROTHY MAUGER, EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF RUSSELL MAUGER AND IN HER OWN RIGHT v. A.W. CHESTERTON, INC., CERTAINTEED CORP., INC., CRANE CO., CRANE PACKING, CROWN CORK & SEAL CO., INC., DURABLA MANUFACTURING CO., FOSECO, INC., GARLOCK, INC., GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP., GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO., GOODYEAR CANADA, INC., GOULDS PUMPS, INC., GREEN TWEED & CO., INC., HERCULES CHEMICAL CO., J.H. REFRACTORIES CO., METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE, NOSROC CORP., PECORA CORP., RAPID AMERICAN CORP., UNION CARBIDE CORP., VIACOM/WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION APPEAL OF: DOROTHY MAUGER DOLORES STEA, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH STEA AND IN HER OWN RIGHT v. A.W. CHESTERTON, INC., CRANE CO., DEMMING DIVISION, CROWN CORK & SEAL CO., INC., FOSTER WHEELER CORP., INC., GARLOCK, INC., GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., GOULDS PUMPS, INC., GREEN TWEED & CO., INC., MELRATH GASKET, INC., METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE, PECORA CORPORATION, RAPID AMERICAN CORP., BEVCO INDUSTRIES, WEIL MCLAIN CO., VIACOM/WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP. APPEAL OF: DOLORES STEA No. 2954, 2955 and 2956 EDA 2006 2009 PA Super 22 Atlantic: 966 A.2d 573 Filed: 2/6/2009
	Appeal from the Orders entered on October 3, 2006, in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Civil Division, at Nos. 3609, November Term, 2005, 2154, November Term, 2004 and 1631 November Term, 2004
Before: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J., STEVENS, MUSMANNO, ORIE MELVIN, LALLY-GREEN, KLEIN, GANTMAN, PANELLA, AND DONOHUE, JJ.
Opinion by: LALLY-GREEN, J.
Dissenting Opinion by: KLEIN, J.
In these asbestos cases, Appellants Bruce Johnson, et al. appeal from the orders dated October 3, 2006, granting summary judgment to Appellee Crown Cork & Seal Co. (“Crown”). The trial court reasoned that Crown was insulated from liability by 15 Pa.C.S.A. § 1929.1 (“the Statute”). Appellants agree that the Statute, on its face, protects Crown. Appellants argue, however, that the Statute: (1) violates the dormant Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution; (2) violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution; and (3) violates various enactment provisions of the Pennsylvania Constitution. We conclude that Appellants lack standing to raise these constitutional challenges. Therefore, we affirm.

-----------------------------------------------------
Want 50 state & federal case law? - click here