In separate cases dealing with asbestos-related illness, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in December 2008 that a manufacturer can’t be held liable for failing to warn about the hazards of someone else’s product.

In other words, no one is responsible for the asbestos necessary for the operation of a machine if the machine’s manufacturer didn’t put it there.

The specific cases involve two men who once worked aboard Navy ships, Joseph Simonetta and Vernon Braaten.

Mr. Simonetta alleged that he developed lung cancer after performing maintenance on an evaporator, a device that removes salt from seawater. Mr. Braaten was a pipefitter, and he later developed mesothelioma.

Something’s Gotta Give In Mr. Simonetta’s case, after the evaporator was shipped from one plant in 1941 or 1942, it was later insulated with asbestos products made by another company.

The asbestos exposure that contributed to Simonetta’s lung cancer allegedly occurred in 1958 or 1959, when asbestos insulation had to be removed from the evaporator during maintenance work. Simonetta served in the Navy 1954 to 1974, and was diagnosed in 2000 and 2002.

In Braaten’s case, the defendants were manufacturers of valves and pumps sold to the Navy and used aboard ships. Doesn’t seem quite right that the Navy can know but turn a blind eye to the presence of asbestos on their ships, but whatever.

After the valves and pumps were installed, the Navy applied asbestos-containing insulation. Braaten c

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