Opinion
C.A. No. N17C-05-126 ASB
08-30-2017
IN RE: ASBESTOS LITIGATION NAGEL T. COBB, Plaintiff, v. PACCAR INC. et al., Defendants.
Upon Defendant PACCAR's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Willful and Wanton Conduct Claim GRANTED. ORDER
Defendant PACCAR Inc. ("Defendant") filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Willful and Wanton Conduct Claims pursuant to Superior Court Civil Rules 8(a), 9(b) and 12(b)(6). Defendant argues that Plaintiff's willful and wanton conduct claim lacks specific supporting factual allegations, and this Court has held that simply "adding the words willful and wanton to an allegation does not transform automatically a case to a punitive damages claim." On the other hand, Plaintiff contends that under Delaware law, "for a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss it need only general notice of the claim asserted." The Court agrees with Defendant. As this Court noted in In re Asbestos Litigation (Ardis) , without a factual basis or the elements of the claim under the substantive state law the claim is brought under, the claim is insufficient. Plaintiff did not plead specific facts to support a punitive damages claim against Defendant. Plaintiff's willful and wanton conduct claim against Defendant is dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff may move to amend if Plaintiff discovers evidence that supports a punitive damages claim.
Defendant cites to In re Asbestos Litig. (Aungst), C.A. N12c-08-017 ASB (Del.Super. Dec. 17, 2012). Defendant also cites to numerous Asbestos Litigation cases where this Court has dismissed "cookie cutter" punitive damage claims.
Plaintiff cites Doe v. Cahill, 884 A.2d 451, 458 (Del. 2005).
In re Asbestos Litigation (Ardis), C.A. No. N13C-10-020 (ASB)(Del. Super. Feb. 6, 2014). --------
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Calvin L. Scott
The Honorable Calvin L. Scott, Jr.