WI Supreme Court rules Pabst is liable in steamfitter death
Case Summary
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Pabst Brewing Company can be held liable for asbestos exposure that led to the death of Gerald Lorbiecki, a steamfitter who worked at its Milwaukee brewery. Lorbiecki died from mesothelioma in 2018, and his family filed a lawsuit nearly a decade ago in Milwaukee County civil court. The court's 5-2 decision affirms the potential responsibility of Pabst for the hazardous working conditions that contributed to Lorbiecki's illness.
Stage
Ruling stage
Timeline
1 event
Coverage
1 article
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Key Issues
- • Asbestos exposure liability
- • Employer responsibility
- • Workplace safety
- • Mesothelioma causation
- • Wrongful death
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1 eventWI Supreme Court rules Pabst is liable in steamfitter death
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Pabst Brewing Company can be held responsible for asbestos exposure that led to the death of Gerald Lorbiecki, a steamfitter who worked at their Milwaukee brewery. This decision comes after nearly a decade of legal battles initiated by Lorbiecki's family following his death from mesothelioma in 2018. The ruling establishes that companies can be liable for harmful working conditions even when workers are employed by independent contractors.