In April 2026, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Pabst Brewing Company can be held liable for mesothelioma suffered by an independent contractor who was exposed to asbestos at a brewery — a landmark decision reinforcing the protections of Wisconsin's unique "safe place statute."
The 5-2 ruling found that Pabst owed a duty of safety to workers on their premises, even those who were not employees. The mesothelioma lawsuit centered on Gerald Lorbiecki, a union steamfitter who developed mesothelioma after working with asbestos-insulated pipes at a Pabst brewery in the 1970s.
The court determined that Pabst knew their facility contained extensive asbestos insulation and that airborne asbestos was dangerous — yet failed to protect workers on the premises. The Lorbiecki estate was ultimately awarded a $7 Million mesothelioma verdict.
This decision is a win for workers and families harmed by asbestos exposure in Wisconsin, making clear that building owners cannot escape accountability simply because the injured party was a contractor rather than an employee.
As a national mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law has over 45 years of experience fighting for families impacted by asbestos exposure. Find out if we may be able to help you seek justice.
What Happened in the Pabst Brewing Asbestos Case?
In the 1970s, Gerald Lorbiecki worked as a steamfitter for a subcontractor at a Pabst Brewing facility. His job involved installing and repairing pipes, which were insulated with asbestos.
Decades later, in 2017, Lorbiecki was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is known as a "latent disease" because it can take 20-50 years for symptoms to appear after initial exposure.
Before his death, Lorbiecki filed a lawsuit alleging that the asbestos exposure he experienced at the Pabst brewery violated Wisconsin's safe place statute. His estate continued the case after he passed.
Here's a timeline of the key events in the Pabst asbestos case:
- 1970s: Lorbiecki works as a subcontracted steamfitter at the Pabst brewery, where miles of pipes were insulated with asbestos
- 2017: Lorbiecki is diagnosed with mesothelioma linked to his asbestos exposure at the brewery
- Trial court: A jury finds Pabst and other asbestos-related companies liable and awards $26.5 Million, but the judge reduces the total to $7 Million after applying damage caps and apportioning liability
- Appeal: Pabst challenged the ruling, arguing that they were not responsible for an independent contractor's work conditions
- April 2026: The Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds Pabst's liability in a 5-2 decision
After nearly 50 years, the court's ruling confirmed what Lorbiecki and his family argued all along: Pabst knew about the asbestos in their brewery and failed to protect the people working there.
"The record here demonstrates that before Lorbiecki worked there, Pabst knew 'many miles of' pipes in its facility were insulated with asbestos, and that airborne asbestos was dangerous to human health."
– Wisconsin Supreme Court
Understanding Wisconsin's Safe Place Statute
Wisconsin's safe place statute is a unique workplace safety law that dates back to the early 20th century. It imposes a higher standard of care on employers and building owners than typical negligence or workplace safety laws.
Under the statute, employers and property owners must do everything reasonably necessary to protect the life, health, safety, and welfare of employees and anyone who frequents the premises. The key issue in this case was whether that duty extended to independent contractors.
Pabst Brewing argued that:
- Lorbiecki was not a direct employee
- The company did not control his day-to-day work
- Pabst should not be held responsible for decisions that led to his asbestos exposure
- It was Lorbiecki's own work methods that created the unsafe conditions
The Wisconsin Supreme Court disagreed. Writing for the majority, Justice Rebecca Dallet found that Pabst was the owner of the brewery and knew their facility contained extensive asbestos insulation that posed a health risk.
Because of this, the company had a legal obligation under the safe place statute to protect everyone on the premises, including employees of independent contractors like Lorbiecki.
In other words, building owners cannot simply hand off responsibility for known hazards to contractors and wash their hands of the consequences.
Should Pabst Have Warned Contractors About Asbestos?
Not all of the justices agreed. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Annette Ziegler, joined by Justice Rebecca Bradley, argued that Lorbiecki's injuries were the result of his own work activities rather than an unsafe condition at the brewery.
"He was an employee of an independent contractor, was injured in the scope of his employment, which required him to ‘hammer and chisel away at asbestos-containing insulation,’” explained Justice Ziegler. “Prior to that work, nothing indicates that the building was in an unsafe condition.”
The dissent warned that the majority's ruling could represent a major shift in how these cases are handled in Wisconsin, potentially allowing workers to convert workplace injuries into safe place violations without proving that the hazard existed before the contractor arrived.
Why This Ruling Matters for Asbestos Victims
This decision has important implications for victims and their families who pursue a mesothelioma claim, particularly those who were exposed to asbestos while working as independent contractors or subcontractors.
Here's how the ruling could shape future cases:
- Building owners can be held accountable for known asbestos hazards on their premises, even when the exposed worker was not their direct employee.
- The safe place statute applies broadly to anyone who "frequents" a property, including employees of independent contractors.
- Punitive damages are available when the property owner knew about the danger — the court confirmed that Pabst's liability included punitive damages, signaling intentional disregard for worker safety.
- Asbestos victims in Wisconsin may have additional legal options beyond traditional negligence claims.
While this ruling applies specifically to Wisconsin, it could influence how courts in other states evaluate the responsibilities of property owners toward contract workers exposed to asbestos on the job.
Contractors Can Get Compensation for Mesothelioma
The Lorbiecki case is a powerful example of what's possible when asbestos victims and their families fight back, even when the responsible company argues that a contractor's employment status should shield them from liability.
If you or a loved one worked as a contractor and was later diagnosed with mesothelioma, there are several paths to compensation available to you:
- Mesothelioma claims: You may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure, just as Lorbiecki and his estate did against Pabst.
- Asbestos trust funds: Many companies that used or manufactured asbestos products have established trust funds through bankruptcy proceedings to compensate victims, with more than $30 Billion estimated to be available across existing trusts.
- Settlements and verdicts: Mesothelioma cases often result in significant compensation through negotiated settlements or jury verdicts that can cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more
Many Sokolove Law clients begin receiving compensation in as few as 90 days of contacting us. Your employment status as a contractor does not disqualify you from seeking the justice and financial support you deserve.
Asbestos Exposure at Breweries & Industrial Facilities
Pabst Brewing is just one of many companies tied to asbestos exposure. Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was widely used for insulation in breweries, factories, power plants, refineries, and other industrial facilities.
Workers who installed, repaired, or removed pipe insulation were at especially high risk. Steamfitters, pipefitters, boilermakers, and maintenance workers frequently handled asbestos-containing materials without proper protective equipment or even basic warnings about the dangers.
Asbestos exposure at industrial job sites can cause illnesses like:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Pleural diseases
Because mesothelioma can take decades to develop after exposure, many workers are only now being diagnosed with cancers linked to asbestos they encountered in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Where Was Asbestos in Brewing Facilities?
Asbestos wasn't just hiding in one corner of a brewery — it was woven into nearly every system that kept the operation running. Before the 1980s, the mineral's heat resistance and durability made it a go-to material across the brewing industry.
Asbestos could be found in several key areas of brewing facilities:
- Beverage filtration systems: Paper filters reinforced with asbestos fibers were used to remove impurities from beer before bottling, with some containing as much as 50% chrysotile asbestos.
- Boilers and heating equipment: Boilers used to heat water for the brewing process were insulated with asbestos on both the interior and exterior, including in the combustion chamber.
- Building construction materials: Asbestos-containing cement, floor tiles, ceiling insulation, and fireproofing materials were standard in brewery structures built before 1980.
- Pipe insulation: Steam and hot water pipes, like those Lorbiecki worked on at the Pabst brewery, were commonly wrapped in asbestos-containing insulation to maintain temperature and protect workers from burns.
- Pumps, valves, and gaskets: Asbestos gaskets and packing materials were used throughout the network of pumps and valves that transported steam and hot water across the facility.
- Vats, tanks, and brewing equipment: Asbestos lining insulated the vats and tanks central to beer production, and the mineral's chemical resistance made it a standard choice for equipment where temperature control was critical.
Anyone who spent time inside these facilities was at risk — not just the workers who handled the insulation directly, but also maintenance staff, production workers, and even office employees in the same buildings. Family could also be exposed secondhand through asbestos dust carried home on work clothes and tools.
In the U.S., at least 162 brewery facilities across 25 states have been linked to asbestos. Carling Brewery leads the list with 7 sites, followed by Pabst with 6, and Anheuser-Busch and Burger Brewery with 4 each.
Many of these older brewery buildings still contain asbestos today, posing ongoing risks during renovation or demolition projects.
Get Help Pursuing Compensation for Asbestos Exposure
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision in the Pabst Brewing case is a powerful reminder that companies can be held accountable — even decades after the exposure occurred.
At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma attorneys have helped thousands of families across all 50 states pursue justice for illnesses caused by asbestos exposure.
We've recovered more than $5.5 Billion in compensation for clients with mesothelioma and their families. When you work with our firm, there are never any upfront costs or hourly fees to get help seeking compensation.
Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to see if we may be able to fight for you.
