Air & Liquid Systems Corp. v. DeVries

The case asked when makers of Navy equipment must warn about asbestos dangers from insulation or replacement parts later added by the Navy or other third parties. The Court said they can have that duty under maritime law when the equipment needs the added part to work as intended, the finished product is likely dangerous, and users would not already know the risk.

The decision affects maritime asbestos lawsuits against equipment makers, even when they did not make or sell the asbestos-containing part itself. For example, sailors or shipyard workers may still sue if a pump or boiler required asbestos parts to work and the danger was not obvious.

The Supreme Court has finished this case. Lower courts must now apply this warning-duty test in future maritime asbestos cases involving equipment and later-added parts.

The dispute was whether equipment makers could be liable for failing to warn about asbestos in parts they did not make or sell. The Court said yes in some circumstances.

Sailors, shipyard workers, and equipment manufacturers are directly affected. The ruling can shape asbestos injury claims involving pumps, boilers, and other ship equipment.

The Supreme Court's role is over. Other courts now use this rule when deciding similar maritime asbestos warning cases.