Joshua W. Praw

Joshua Praw (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) and Vanessa Natividad (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) prevailed on a motion for summary adjudication in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, on behalf of a stone countertop distributor in Orange County. The plaintiff, a career stone cutter, was diagnosed with silicosis. He sued our client, among dozens of defendants, alleging the client supplied him with natural and engineered stone slabs that he subsequently worked on or around. He further alleged that the slabs released respirable crystalline silica that he inhaled, causing him to develop silicosis. Of the causes of action against our client, the plaintiff alleged that the client fraudulently concealed the dangers of the products. Joshua and Vanessa successfully brought a motion for summary adjudication on the cause of action for fraudulent concealment, resolving that claim in our client’s favor.

Joshua Praw (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) and Vanessa Natividad (Of Counsel-Los Angeles/San Francisco) secured summary adjudication in Los Angeles Superior Court for Wilson Elser’s client, a stone countertop retailer in Los Angeles County. The plaintiff, a career stone cutter, was diagnosed with silicosis. He sued our client, among dozens of defendants, alleging that the client supplied him with natural and engineered stone slabs that he subsequently worked on or around, and that these slabs released respirable crystalline silica, which he inhaled, causing his silicosis. As to the causes of action specifically brought against our client, the plaintiff alleged that the client failed to warn him of the danger, fraudulently concealed the dangers of the products, and sought punitive damages against the client. Joshua and Vanessa brought a motion for summary adjudication regarding the allegations of failure to warn, fraudulent concealment, and the prayer for punitive damages. Wilson Elser’s motion for summary adjudication on all three issues was granted.

Joshua Praw (Of Counsel-San Francisco) and Kelsie Longerbeam (Associate-San Francisco) prevailed on their motion for summary judgment in Los Angeles Superior Court for Wilson Elser’s client, a natural and artificial stone product retailer. In this toxic tort claim, the plaintiff sued our client, among dozens of other defendants, alleging they each manufactured, distributed, or otherwise supplied products containing respirable crystalline silica, which the plaintiff inhaled while working on or around their products throughout his career as a stone fabricator, sustaining serious injury. In their motion for summary judgment, Joshua and Kelsie argued that the plaintiff failed to meet his burden of proving that our client supplied any products to him or any of his worksites throughout his 20-year career. The court agreed, granting the motion and ruling that the plaintiff “fails to meet his burden of proving a triable issue of material fact remains” regarding whether Wilson Elser’s client caused his injuries, thwarting a last multi million dollar demand.