John H. Weddle, et al vs.  AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. – A Virginia Corporation, et al

Case Background

On October 27, 2021, Plaintiff  John H. Weddle and Vera G. Weddle filed an asbestos-related product liability lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Multnomah County, Oregon State(Case number: 21CV41693). Judges Stephen K. Bushong, Judith H. Matarazz, Shelley D. Russell, Rima Ghandour, Thomas M. Ryan, Amy M. Baggio, David F. Rees, and Andrew M. Lavin presided over this case.

Cause

John H. Weddle, a longtime resident of Oregon, operated Willamette Lanes, a bowling alley, from 1970 to 2009. Throughout his career, he worked with asbestos-containing products, including bowling balls, automatic pin-setting machines, ball return machines, and drilling machines. These products had asbestos in gaskets, clutches, and motors.

Between 1976 and 1995, John and his wife, Vera G. Weddle, also worked with ceramics at home. They handled asbestos-containing ceramic slip, talc, and kiln supplies. In June 2021, doctors diagnosed John with mesothelioma, a fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure.

Injuries

John H. Weddle suffered from mesothelioma, a severe and terminal cancer. His prolonged exposure to asbestos in his bowling alley and home caused the disease. As mesothelioma progressed, he experienced debilitating pain, loss of lung function, and overall health deterioration. He underwent extensive medical treatment, including hospitalization, chemotherapy, and palliative care. His illness caused immense emotional distress and severely impacted his quality of life.

Damages

Asbestos exposure led to significant financial burdens. John H. Weddle accumulated medical expenses for doctor visits, hospital stays, medications, and hospice care, totaling $3,000,000. His inability to work resulted in a loss of income and pension worth another $3,000,000.

For his pain and suffering, he sought $10,000,000 in non-economic damages. Vera G. Weddle, devastated by her husband’s declining health, pursued $10,000,000 for loss of consortium. The total compensation requested in the asbestos lawsuit amounted to $26,000,000.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s):  John H. Weddle | Vera G. Weddle
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Brennan D. M. Wortmann | Ann Y. Su | Daniel Casey Dineen | Deirdre McDonnell | Meredith Boyden Good | John H. Weddle | Katryn A. Newton | Brian F. Ladenburg | Kelly Battley | Sarah-Ray E. Rundle

  • Defendant(s):

AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. – A Virginia Corporation | BlueArc Capital Management, LLC – Successor in interest to Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC, and Ebonite International, Inc.; a Limited Liability Company organized in Delaware | Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC – Individually and as successor in interest to Brunswick Corporation and Ebonite International, Inc.; a Limited Liability Company organized in Delaware | Brunswick Corporation (d/b/a Brunswick Bowling & Billiards) – Individually and as successor in interest to Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC, | Ebonite International, Inc.; a Delaware Corporation | The Cary Company (f/k/a The Cary Corporation) – A Maryland Corporation | CNCC, Inc. (f/k/a Crozier-Nelson Chemicals & Containers Inc.) – A Texas Corporation | Duncan Enterprises – A California Corporation | Gare Incorporated – A Massachusetts Corporation | Gulf Coast Chemical Corporation – A Florida Corporation | Honeywell International, Inc. – Individually and as successor to AlliedSignal, Inc., and The Bendix Corporation; a Delaware Corporation | Pfizer, Inc. – A Delaware Corporation | QubicaAMF Worldwide, LLC (f/k/a AMF Bowling Products, LLC) – A Limited Liability Company organized in Virginia | Skutt Ceramic Products, Inc. – An Oregon Corporation | Union Carbide Corporation – A New York Corporation | Van Horn Metz & Co., Inc. – A Pennsylvania Corporation | Vanderbilt Minerals, LLC (f/k/a R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc.) – A Limited Liability Company organized in Delaware.

    • Counsel for Defendants: Diane C. Babbitt | Kristen Lee Price | Bruce C. Smith | James E. Horne | Jennifer B. Pigeon | Lorianne G. Hanson | Ryan J. Roberts | David R. Ongaro | Erin P. Fraser | Julie N. Friedman | Kevin Greene | Kristine Elizabeth Kruger | Anthony Todaro | Marissa Alkhazov | Stephen H. Barrett | Allen E. Eraut | Kevin M. Bergstrom | Claude F. Bosworth | Lindsey Elizabeth Marsh | Nancy M. Erfle | Aukjen Tadema Ingraham | Florence McClain | Karleen J. Scharer | Matthew Nelson | Ronald Scott Masterson | Mark J. Fucile | Shaun Morgan | John Ruff | Thomas Bernier

Claims

The lawsuit accused multiple defendants, including AMF Bowling Centers, Brunswick Bowling Products, and asbestos manufacturers and suppliers, of negligence and strict liability. The plaintiffs alleged that these companies knew about asbestos dangers but failed to warn consumers. They continued to manufacture and distribute asbestos-containing products without safety instructions.

The plaintiffs claimed the defendants had a duty to inform users about the risks of asbestos exposure. By failing to act, these companies endangered workers like John H. Weddle, leading to his mesothelioma diagnosis. Vera G. Weddle also suffered because of her husband’s illness, justifying her loss of consortium claim.

Defense

The defendants denied responsibility for John H. Weddle’s asbestos exposure. They argued they neither manufactured nor distributed asbestos-containing products that could have caused his mesothelioma. They claimed no knowledge of any potential risks and insisted they followed all safety regulations.

The defense asserted that the asbestos lawsuit lacked a valid legal basis. They argued that the statute of limitations barred the case. They also stated that John H. Weddle’s exposure, if any, resulted from third parties, not their products. Additionally, they contended that he misused or improperly handled materials, leading to unnecessary exposure.

Further, the defendants maintained they owed no duty of care to the plaintiffs. They argued that industry professionals and employers should have been aware of asbestos risks. They also claimed John H. Weddle failed to take proper precautions to minimize exposure. If the court assigned liability, they requested contribution or indemnity from other responsible parties.

The defense rejected claims for punitive damages, asserting they violated due process rights. They also argued for limits on recovery under state law and challenged the court’s jurisdiction. Ultimately, they sought dismissal of the asbestos lawsuit and reimbursement for legal costs.

Jury Verdict

On September 23, 2024, the jury ruled in favor of the defendants. They found no evidence linking the companies to John H. Weddle’s asbestos exposure or mesothelioma. The plaintiffs failed to prove that the defendants manufactured, sold, or distributed asbestos-containing products responsible for his illness. As a result, the jury concluded that the defendants bore no liability in the asbestos lawsuit.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com