Brownson PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Kristi K. Brownson and Robert D. Brownson, along with co-counsel, won an important ruling from the United States District Court in Minnesota when Brownson PLLC client Conwed Corporation was dismissed from an asbestos lawsuit for lack of personal jurisdiction in Minnesota.

Relying upon recent United States Supreme Court decisions restricting where corporations may be sued, the Honorable Judge Susan Nelson held that Conwed Corporation was not “at home” in Minnesota and could not be sued there by Kansas residents. This determination follows Conwed’s previous success in having the case dismissed in state court in St. Louis, Missouri. In an unsuccessful attempt to justify personal jurisdiction in Minnesota, Plaintiffs contended that because Conwed Corporation manufactured ceiling tile (at issue in the case) in Minnesota between 1959 and 1974, and maintained a corporate headquarters there until 1985, Minnesota was a proper forum. The Court disagreed.

In its October 10, 2017, ruling, the Court sided with Conwed holding that only current contacts with the state should be considered. As such, the Court dismissed the case for lack of both general and specific personal jurisdiction. Michael P. McGill and Tatyana Bobrova v. Conwed Corporation, Civil No. 17-01047 (SRN/HB) (D. Minn. Oct. 10, 2017).

Click here to see the Opinion. Dkt 50 – order denying motion to remand & granting PJ MTD