N.Y. Court Refuses to Order Asbestos Plaintiffs to Join State Court Defendants to Separate Federal Court Suit

NEW YORK –– A New York court has rejected the chance to issue an order requiring asbestos plaintiffs to join state-court defendants to a separately filed federal court action, saying that while the joinder of the defendants into one lawsuit may be efficient but is not required.

In the June 21 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York wrote that if Crane Co. is asked to pay more than its equitable share, it maintains the right to seek reimbursements from absent joint tortfeasors.

According to the court, the plaintiffs in the instant suit filed two …