Casey v. Dynalectric CA1/3

Filed 6/17/15 Casey v. Dynalectric CA1/3
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
PATRICIA CASEY et al.,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
A139311
v.
DYNALECTRIC COMPANY, (City & County of San Francisco
Super. Ct. No. CGC-11-275879)
Defendant and Respondent.
Patricia Casey, Catherine Grabinksi and Jessica Casey (plaintiffs) appeal from the
entry of summary judgment in favor of the defendant Dynalectric Company on plaintiffs’
negligence claims. Plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that John Casey (hereafter
Casey or decedent) was injured and later died as a result of his injuries, after negligent
conduct by defendant’s employees caused Casey to be exposed to asbestos-containing
dust. The trial court found that defendant did not owe Casey a duty of care with respect to
his injury because the undisputed facts established that defendant did not know and
should not have known that the materials to which it exposed Casey contained asbestos.
We conclude, however, that the “General Industry Safety Orders” promulgated by the
California Department of Industrial Relations imposed a duty on defendant to exercise
reasonable care with respect to the exposure of decedent to significant levels of industrial
dust, irrespective of whether defendant knew or should have known the dust contained
asbestos. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment and remand for further proceedings.
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FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The following facts are undisputed. John Casey was a plumber. In 1968-1969,
Casey was employed by Rodoni-Becker Co., Inc, and worked for approximately 12 to 14
months in the construction of Crocker Plaza Building in San Francisco. At the jobsite he
worked in the presence of employees of Lera Electric Company, Inc. (Lera), an electrical
contractor and the alleged predecessor-in-interest of defendant Dynalectric Company.
The Lera employees disturbed and scraped fireproofing off of beams on numerous
occasions during the installation of electrical materials. This created debris and clouds of
fine dust in the air throughout the site which decedent could see and taste. The biggest
disturbances occurred when Lera employees shot wires into the decking, which caused
the fireproofing to come down on everybody like a “rain forest.” Neither Casey nor
defendant knew at that point that the fireproofing contained asbestos.
Casey was diagnosed with mesothelioma on or about January 2010. Casey and his
wife Patricia filed a complaint on March 22, 2010, against defendant for personal injuries
and loss of consortium. The complaint claims that Casey was exposed to asbestos by
many defendants including Lera, as the result of which he contracted asbestos related
diseases and injuries. After Casey passed away in July 2011, Patricia and her daughters
Catherine Grabinksi and Jessica Casey filed a second amended complaint alleging,
among other things, causes of action for negligence, as the successor-in-interest and legal
heirs of decedent. 1
Defendant moved for summary judgment of plaintiffs’ negligence claim on the
ground that defendant did not owe a duty of care to decedent. Defendant argued that the
undisputed facts establish that when the work was performed in the late 1960’s its
employees did not know and should not have known they were disturbing asbestos
containing material in decedent’s presence. In the face of an unforeseeable injury,
defendant asserted, there can be no duty and, therefore, no negligence.
1
Plaintiffs’ complaint also alleged a cause of action for strict products liability that was
withdrawn by plaintiff prior to the ruling on the summary judgment motion.
2
Plaintiffs conceded that there was no evidence that defendant’s employees knew
they were exposing decedent to asbestos dust. They argued, however, that the evidence
established a triable issue of fact as to whether defendant should have known that the
conduct of its employees would expose decedent to asbestos. Alternatively, they argued
that whether or not defendant’s employees knew or should have known that the dust they
were generating contained asbestos, they knew or should have known that exposure to
any industrial dust over a certain concentration is hazardous and they had a duty to take
precautions to protect decedent from such exposure. Plaintiffs relied in large part on
General Industry Safety Orders (safety orders) (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 3200 et al.)
promulgated by the California Department of Industrial Relations in effect at the time of
the exposure. The safety orders establish maximum exposure thresholds for harmful
industrial dusts and prescribe standards and methods of control, protection against, and
isolation of the hazardous dusts.
The trial court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment. The court
found that plaintiffs “failed to submit evidence creating a triable issue whether defendant
owed a duty to plaintiff.” The court explained that plaintiffs failed to submit evidence
creating a triable issue whether defendant knew or should have known that the products
or materials to which it exposed plaintiff contained asbestos and that even if a “duty was
created pursuant to the 1955 [safety orders], plaintiffs failed to submit evidence creating a
triable issue whether defendant knew or should have known that the dust allegedly
disturbed by defendant’s employee in Mr. Casey’s presence . . . was hazardous (i.e.
asbestos) and exceeded the dust count acceptable under the 1955 [safety orders].”
Plaintiffs timely filed a notice of appeal.
DISCUSSION
The standard of review for summary judgment is well established. We
independently review an order granting summary judgment, viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the nonmoving party. (Lackner v. North (2006) 135 Cal. App. 4th
1188, 1196.) A moving defendant meets its burden of showing that a cause of action has
no merit by establishing that one or more elements of a cause of action cannot be
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established or that there is a complete defense. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001)
25 Cal. 4th 826, 849-850; Lackner v. North, supra, at p. 1196.) “ ‘Once the moving party
has met its burden, the opposing party bears the burden of presenting evidence that there
is any triable issue of fact as to any essential element of a cause of action.’ ” (Ochoa v.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (1998) 61 Cal. App. 4th 1480, 1485.) In examining the
sufficiency of affidavits filed in connection with the motion, the affidavits of the moving
party are strictly construed and those of his opponent liberally construed, and doubts as to
the propriety of granting the motion should be resolved in favor of the party opposing the
motion. (Stationers Corp. v. Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. (1965) 62 Cal. 2d 412, 417.)
As noted above, the sole basis for defendant’s motion was that plaintiff could not
establish that defendant owed a duty of care to decedent. “ ‘The threshold element of a
cause of action for negligence is the existence of a duty to use due care toward an interest
of another that enjoys legal protection against unintentional invasion. [Citations.]
Whether this essential prerequisite to a negligence cause of action has been satisfied in a
particular case is a question of law to be resolved by the court.’ ” (Artiglio v. Corning Inc.
(1998) 18 Cal. 4th 604, 614.)
The general rule in California is that “[e]veryone is responsible, not only for the
result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her
want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person . . . .”
(Civ. Code, § 1714, subd. (a).) “In order to limit the otherwise potential infinite liability
which would follow every negligent act, the law of torts holds defendant amenable only
for injuries to others which to defendant at the time were reasonably foreseeable.” (Dillon
v. Legg (1968) 68 Cal. 2d 728, 739.) “[I]in analyzing duty, the court’s task ‘ “ ‘is not to
decide whether a particular plaintiff’s injury was reasonably foreseeable in light of a
particular defendant's conduct, but rather to evaluate more generally whether the category
of negligent conduct at issue is sufficiently likely to result in the kind of harm
experienced that liability may appropriately be imposed on the negligent party.’
[Citation.] Viewed in this light, the question of foreseeability in a ‘duty’ context is a
limited one for the court, and readily contrasted with the fact-specific foreseeability
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questions bearing on negligence (breach of duty) and proximate causation posed to the
jury or trier of fact.” ’ ” (Laabs v. Southern California Edison Co. (2009) 175
Cal. App. 4th 1260, 1273.)
Defendant argues the trial court correctly concluded that because defendant’s
employees did not know, and should not have known, they were disturbing asbestos-
containing material in decedent’s presence, they had no duty to protect against the
unforeseeable risk that he would be injured by exposure to asbestos. Plaintiffs contend
that defendant defines the duty too narrowly. They argue that defendant’s employees
knew or should have known that exposure to significant amounts of occupational dust
generally pose a risk to those exposed to the dust and that defendant’s injury resulted
from his exposure to that dust. Therefore, plaintiffs argue, defendant owed a duty of care
to exercise reasonable care to protect Casey from that risk. We agree.
In opposition to the motion, plaintiffs submitted the declaration of Richard Cohen,
M.D., as an expert on occupational medicine and industrial toxicology. Cohen opined,
among other things, that “by the 1960’s a company, working in construction and on
jobsites where contractors and laborers were working alike, should have been aware of
potential health hazards associated with exposure to certain occupational dusts
generally.” In his declaration, Cohen detailed the history of the safety orders on which he
relied, in part, in forming his opinion.
The safety orders, as first issued in 1936, applied “to every place of employment
where a work or process is carried on by which dusts . . . of a harmful nature are
produced or generated, or exist independently of the work or process, which may be
inhaled in quantities or concentrations that constitute harmful exposure.” (Cal. Dept. of
Industrial Relations, Dusts, Fumes, Vapors and Gases Safety Orders, Order No. 1901,
eff. Dec. 28, 1936.) From 1936 through their amendment in 1948, the safety orders
defined “harmful exposure” as exposure to “dusts (other than sillicas, asbestos and those
5
of a toxic nature),” or to “total dust,” exceeding 50 million particles per cubic foot of air.2
(Id., Order No. 1903, eff. Dec. 28, 1936, & as amended July 20, 1948.)
In 1955, the orders were reorganized and amended, but continued to set the
maximum exposure level for “total dust” at 50 million particles per cubic foot of air.
(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 4101, subd. (l) & app. A, Reg. 55, No. 2-B (Jan. 22, 1955).)
Appendix A, which contains the applicable threshold levels, explains that the “tables
represent concentrations of various substances in which it is considered safe for men to
work whether for brief periods or for full working periods daily for an indefinite time. . . .
The figures are given as an indication of current opinion and practice, doubts being
resolved on the side of safety.” (Ibid.) The 1955 safety orders directed the employer to
change, whenever practicable, the equipment, material, or process producing dust in
quantities and conditions which produce harmful effects so as to eliminate the harmful
products, unless the employer elects to control such hazards in accordance with the
provisions of the orders. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, § 4102.) The orders prescribe standards
and methods of control, protection against, and isolation of the hazardous dusts when
they are produced in the course of employment. These include control by ventilation;
provision of protective respiratory equipment where removal of the hazardous substance
by ventilation is impracticable; using mediums allaying dust, and isolation of hazardous
operations. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 8, §§ 4103, 4104, 4105, 4106.)3
2
The safety orders set a lower maximum exposure threshold for asbestos at five million
particles per cubic foot of air. (Cal. Dept. of Industrial Relations, Dusts, Fumes, Vapors
and Gases Safety Orders, Order No. 1903, eff. Dec. 28, 1936, as amended July 20, 1948.)
3
We note that contrary to the statement in Cohen’s declaration, the safety orders, as
amended effective June 1968, no longer include a threshold maximum for total dust. (Cal.
Code Regs., tit. 8, app. A, Reg. 68, No. 21-A (June 1, 1968).) We offer no opinion as to
the effect of the amendment with respect to defendant’s duty beginning in June 1968. It is
sufficient for purposes of considering defendant’s motion for summary judgment that, as
discussed below, defendant owed a duty to prevent harmful exposure to total dust under
the safety orders in effect for at least part of the 1968-1969 period (i.e., until May 31,
1968).
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It is well established that such safety orders are admissible “to establish a standard
or duty of care in all negligence and wrongful death actions, including third party
actions.” (Elsner v. Uveges (2004) 34 Cal. 4th 915, 928; Porter v. Montgomery Ward &
Co., Inc. (1957) 48 Cal. 2d 846, 847, 849; Armenta v. Churchill (1954) 42 Cal. 2d 448,
455.) In this case, the safety orders establish a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid
exposing others to significant levels of industrial dust. Casey’s injury, which they allege
was caused by exposure to industrial dust, was a foreseeable result of defendant’s
allegedly negligent conduct. Defendant presented no evidence that the industrial dust
generated by its workers was within the acceptable limit established by the safety orders,
so that the burden of presenting conflicting evidence never shifted to the plaintiffs.
In all events, contrary to the trial court’s order, plaintiffs’ evidence creates a
triable issue of fact as to “whether defendant knew or should have known that the dust
allegedly disturbed by defendant’s employee in Mr. Casey’s presence . . . exceeded the
dust count acceptable under the 1955 [safety orders].” In his declaration, Cohen opined
that “[i]n light of John Casey testimony that Lera Electric generated large amounts of
visible dust, but took no precautions (such as ventilation, water, or protective gear) to
reduce such dust- including those required by the [safety orders] Lera Electric’s conduct
probably did not comply.” The evidence that the dust generated by the work performed
by Lera was visible in “rainforest” concentrations supports a reasonable inference that the
total dust exceeded the maximum threshold and created a hazardous condition as to
which it had the duty to take reasonable measures to avoid exposing others.
In the trial court, defendant challenged the admissibility of much of this evidence.
The court found that Cohen’s opinion that defendant knew or should have known of the
dangers of industrial dust generally was irrelevant because “[t]he issue before the Court is
whether Defendant knew or should have known that asbestos was present in the materials
disturbed at Dynalectric Company jobsites where the decedent was present.” The court
also found irrelevant Cohen’s opinion that defendant did not comply with applicable
safety orders, indicating again that “[t]he issue before the court is whether defendant
knew or should have known that asbestos was present in the material disturbed at
7
Dynalectric jobsites where the plaintiff was present. . . . The only relevant issue is
whether defendant knew or should have known that the materials it disturbed contained
asbestos.” As discussed above, the court viewed the issue too narrowly. Even if defendant
did not have actual or constructive knowledge of the presence of asbestos, it was obliged
to know, and to take reasonable steps to avoid, the hazard of exposing others to excessive
levels of industrial dust. That the dust in this case contained asbestos is relevant to the
issues of causation and damages, but defendant’s unawareness of the presence of asbestos
did not negate its duty to avoid creating conditions that the safety orders deemed
hazardous and to comply with the limits imposed by the safety orders. At trial, plaintiff
will have the burden of establishing that defendant breached this duty.
The court also sustained defendant’s objection to plaintiff’s request for judicial
notice of the various safety orders regarding the control of dust. The court indicated that
plaintiff’s “request fails to establish what orders were in place at the relevant time period,
1968-1969. The 1936, 1945 and 1955 [safety orders] are irrelevant to this case.”
However, these earlier safety orders may well bear on what a reasonable electrical
contractor knew or should have known in 1968 about the dangers of industrial dust.
Cohen’s opinions and the safety orders issued in 1936, 1945 and 1955 are relevant and
should not have been excluded.
In conclusion, the safety orders imposed a duty upon defendant to control or
isolate dust produced in quantities giving rise to harmful exposure for part if not all of the
relevant time period. A triable issue of fact exists as to whether the dust created by
defendant’s conduct exceeded the maximum threshold levels set by the safety orders.
Because summary judgment was erroneously granted on the ground that defendant’s
unawareness of the presence of asbestos negated its duty to avoid generating excessive
levels of industrial dust, we must reverse the judgment and remand the action for further
proceedings. We of course express no opinion on the numerous issues that remain for
determination, including the factual questions of the content and quantities of the dust
generated by defendant’s work at the jobsite in question, whether defendant was
8
negligent in failing to take reasonable protective measures, causation of Casey’s injuries
and damages.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for further proceedings.
_________________________
Pollak, Acting P.J.
We concur:
_________________________
Siggins, J.
_________________________
Jenkins, J.
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