ESAB, Altrad held liable for Cape asbestos operations

A South Carolina court has ruled that ESAB Corp. and Altrad Group are liable for Cape Asbestos Co. Ltd.'s past asbestos operations, according to a press release. The decision came in a lawsuit filed by John A. Tibbs and his wife, who claim the sale of raw asbestos by the companies led to Tibbs' cancer. ESAB, an American-Swedish industrial firm, is deemed the parent company of Charter Consolidated and Central Mining, entities involved in controlling Cape's asbestos business and its distribution into the U.S. The Altrad Group took control of Cape in 2017.

The ruling holds Altrad Investment Authority S.A.S. and its chairman, Mohed Altrad, accountable for Cape's actions and liabilities. Cape, based in Britain, provided asbestos to the U.S. during the 20th century, supplying over 95% of the industrial asbestos imported into the country. The asbestos was used in various industries, including manufacturing, industrial facilities, and naval vessels.

The plaintiff's legal team, Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP, has secured multiple judgments against Cape, including a $38 million settlement for client Jerry Ross and his family. The case, titled Tibbs v. 3M Company, et al., Case No. 2023-CP-40-01759, is currently ongoing in the Court of Common Pleas for Richland County, South Carolina.