R.I. Court to Review Claim Forms Submitted with Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts; Will See if They Contain ‘Discoverable’ Information

PROVIDENCE, R.I. –– A Rhode Island trial court has scheduled an in camera review of claim forms submitted with asbestos bankruptcy trusts in order to determine whether they contain “discoverable” information relating to the decedent’s history of exposure to Crane Co.’s products.

In a Nov. 18 decision, the Rhode Island Superior Court backed off an earlier ruling in which it denied Crane Co. access to the forms, citing the defendant’s new theory of the relevance of the bankruptcy trust claim forms.

The underlying claims were asserted on behalf of Douglas A. Sweredoski, who was allegedly exposed to asbestos while serving …