Plaintiffs filed suit against numerous defendants, alleging that asbestos dust attributable to industrial pumps made by Defendant GIW contributed to cause decedent’s mesothelioma. Court entered protective order prohibiting Plaintiffs from using, outside of this litigation, information contained in bills of material that GIW was compelled to produce in discovery. As GIW admits that it directly sold the relevant type of industrial pumps to a company at its 2 Illinois locations, court has specific personal jurisdiction. A plaintiff need not prove a product is defective to establish personal jurisdiction. Protective order only requires that Plaintiffs seek leave of court before using Bills of Material for purposes other than the present litigation. Court did not abuse its discretion in issuing protective order. (WELCH and OVERSTREET, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Personal Jurisdiction