Illinois Supreme Court reverses Lipke rule
4/16/2009 9:51 AM By Ann Knef
In a 5-1 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court has handed asbestos defendants a victory by reversing Nolan v. Weil-McLain.
Known as the "Lipke" rule, the precedent-setting case prohibited defendants from introducing evidence of a plaintiff's exposure to other asbestos products.
Justice Charles Freeman delivered the opinion for the court. Justices Thomas Fitzgerald, Rita Garman, Lloyd Karmeier and Anne Burke concurred.
Justice Thomas Kilbride dissented.