U.S. Supreme Court Denies Motion to Stay W.Va. Asbestos Trial

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a motion to postpone a mass asbestos trial that is scheduled for later this month in West Virginia and involves more than 8,000 plaintiffs and some 250 defendants. Mobil Corp., et al. v. Adkins, et al., No. 02-132 (U.S. Sup. Ct.).

The order denying the application to stay a previous mandate by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals allowing the trial to move forward was issued Sept. 16 by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. The order was issued without comment.

In their application to stay the mandate, defendants ExxonMobil Corp. and Honeywell …