A South Carolina trial court found ESAB Corp. and France-based Altrad Group liable for the asbestos operations of Cape Asbestos Co. Ltd., a British firm that dominated U.S. industrial asbestos imports during the 20th century.
The ruling by the Court of Common Pleas for Richland County, delivered Sept. 14 in Columbia, S.C., assigned responsibility to both ESAB — an American-Swedish industrial company and corporate parent of Charter Consolidated and Central Mining, entities that controlled Cape's asbestos business and its distribution into the United States — and to Altrad, which acquired Cape in 2017. The court determined that Altrad Investment Authority S.A.S. and its chairman, Mohed Altrad, are accountable for Cape's historical conduct and associated liabilities.
Cape supplied more than 95% of commonly used industrial asbestos imported into the United States, according to historical corporate records. The material was used in industrial facilities, manufacturing operations and naval vessels. The asbestos lawsuit was brought by John A. Tibbs and his wife, who allege the raw asbestos caused Mr. Tibbs' cancer. The case, styled Tibbs v. 3M Company et al., is docketed as 2023-CP-40-01759, and was announced by former South Carolina Chief Justice Jean H. Toal.
Attorney Trey Branham of Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP, said his firm has secured separate judgments against Cape, including a $38 million verdict for client Jerry Ross and his family. The SC ruling adds to the growing body of legal accountability being pursued against companies tied to Cape's asbestos operations.
