Court Affirms Order Compelling Arbitration between CCR and Maryland Asbestos Plaintiffs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Maryland Court of Appeals has affirmed an order compelling arbitration in an asbestos settlement dispute, rejecting the plaintiffs' contention that a letter altering the settlement agreement precluded arbitration. Rourke v. Amchem Products, et al., No. 24-C-02-001240/CN (Md. Ct. App.).

In a Dec. 14 opinion, the Court of Appeals additionally declined to adopt the doctrine of offensive non-mutual collateral estoppel, ruling that it is unfair to the defendants.

In April 2000, two Maryland law firms claiming to represent nearly 900 asbestos plaintiffs entered into a settlement agreement estimated at $10 million with the Center for Claims Resolution. …