Missisippi Judge Dismisses 3,700 Out-Of-State Plaintiffs

FAYETTE, Miss. -- Judge Lamar Pickard of the Jefferson County Circuit Court in Mississippi has dismissed without prejudice the claims of 3,700 out-of-state asbestos plaintiffs, acting on a December order in which the judge warned that if the plaintiffs did not show within 20 days that they resided or were injured in the county where their claims were filed, they would be dismissed. Noble, et al. v. E.H. O'Neil Co., et al., No. 98-24 (Miss. Cir. Ct., Jefferson Cty.).

In a Jan. 24 order, Judge Pickard also transferred the claims of 710 plaintiffs to other counties in Mississippi in which …