The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Volkswagen AG’s petition challenging California courts’ jurisdiction over a mesothelioma lawsuit. The original case was filed by the family of Raul Hernandez, who died from the rare, asbestos-related cancer after working as a mechanic at Volkswagen dealerships from 1969 to 1976.
Mesothelioma Victim’s Family Wins Battle Against Foreign Manufacturer
The case centered on a question of jurisdiction in a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit, and the judges’ decision not to hear arguments puts an end to a series of appeals that followed a decision originally handed down in 2023. At that time, the Alameda County Superior Court assigned to the Hernandez case had granted Volkswagen’s motion to quash the summons for lack of personal jurisdiction. Had it been allowed to stand, that court’s decision would have ended the family’s quest for justice, but in March 2025, the California Court of Appeals issued a ruling that reversed that decision. Volkswagen AG then submitted a petition for writ of certiorari to the nation’s Supreme Court.
Mr. Hernandez’s family blames his fatal cancer on exposure to asbestos-containing gaskets, brake parts, and clutch components while working at California Volkswagen dealerships during the 1970s. Rather than defending based on the merits, the Germany-based Volkswagen AG argued that California courts had no personal jurisdiction over it for its products sold and marketed through an independent American distributor in the state. The automaker argued that its arm’s-length relationship with U.S. distributors should shield it from liability in states where they don’t directly conduct business.
Supreme Court Allows California Appellate Court’s Decision to Stand
In its 2025 ruling on the mesothelioma case, the California appellate court rejected Volkswagen’s jurisdictional argument, finding that the automaker had purposefully availed itself of California’s market through its distributor relationship. The ruling aligns with decisions made by the Supreme Court in a 2021 decision involving Ford Motor Co. and the states of Montana and Minnesota.
The Supreme Court’s denial confirms that foreign manufacturers selling products through U.S. distributors can be held accountable in states where their products are sold and allows the mesothelioma lawsuit to proceed in California courts. Counsel for the Hernandez family stated they were “not surprised that the Supreme Court denied cert as to Volkswagen AG’s claim that California improperly exercised jurisdiction over this company. Volkswagen AG has purposefully targeted the California market for many decades for sales of its vehicles. Indeed, California has been its most lucrative U.S. market for over half a century.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s important to work with professionals who have deep expertise in helping asbestos victims. For more information, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net at 1-800-692-8608.
