Bartlit Beck Wins Dismissal of Mass Action Against Arconic Related to Grenfell Tower Fire
Abby Mollen, along with co-counsel from DLA Piper, obtained a complete dismissal for forum non conveniens of the claims against Bartlit Beck client Arconic Inc. arising out of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London. A group of 247 plaintiffs and their estates brought suit in Pennsylvania, alleging that cladding panels manufactured by Arconic’s French subsidiary contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Bartlit Beck moved to dismiss the claims for forum non conveniens, arguing that the case should be litigated in the UK rather than the United States. On September 16, 2020, Judge Baylson of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted the motion, agreeing with Arconic that the critical witnesses and other evidence related to the tragedy are located in the UK and that the case should not proceed in American courts.
Coverage in Law360 here