California District Court Says OCF Claims Against Big Tobacco Belong in State Court

SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. District Court in California has remanded a complaint filed by Owens Corning to recover from several tobacco companies money it paid for asbestos-related claims the company says are actually related to smoking. Fibreboard Corp. and Owens Corning v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., et al., No. C-00-3705 (N.D. Calif.).

Ruling that the case involves no bankruptcy issues and includes claims brought entirely under state law, the court granted OCF's motion to remand the case to Alameda County Superior Court, where it was originally filed.

Big Tobacco had argued the case was closely related to Owens Corning's …