Abstracts » Law

Congress next for asbestos mess? Both sides want action as settlement is undone

Article Abstract:

The Second Circuit has overturned the restructured Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, ruling that US District Judge Jack B. Weinstein exceeded his authority in joining parties with conflicting interest in the proposed class action settlement. Judge Weinstein has asked the asbestos bar to help in redoing the settlement and continued a stay on claims against Manville in order to protect the corporation's assets.

Johns Manville Corp.

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Westinghouse loses on papers; asbestos memos at issue

Article Abstract:

Westinghouse Electric Corp, a defendant in Cerka v AC&S Inc, a large consolidated asbestos case, has lost on a claim of privilege for a memo about an in-house document retention and destruction system. Westinghouse claims that the proposed system was never implemented and that no documents were destroyed. Westinghouse at one time made more than 100 different asbestos products.

Transformers, except electronic, Household refrigerators and freezers, Confidential communications, Westinghouse Electric Corp.

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An asbestos judge pushes to combine bankruptcy cases

Article Abstract:

US District Judge Charles R. Weiner wants to streamline the backlog of asbestos cases and to this end is seeking the consolidation of 13 bankruptcy cases by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Judge Weiner's handling of 26,000 consolidated asbestos cases is being challenged and plaintiffs want the cases remanded to the 87 jurisdictions they came from.

Management, Multidistrict litigation

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