Nation's Auto Makers Remove Asbestos Cases; Ask Bankruptcy Court to Resolve Threshold Issues Under Daubert

The country's Big Three auto makers are removing asbestos cases from state courts all over the country in an attempt to have the complaints consolidated before a federal bankruptcy judge to determine whether, under Daubert, plaintiffs have viable claims for exposure to a bankrupt company's asbestos-containing products.

General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have filed notice of removal in hundreds of cases involving personal injury claims filed against all three companies. The related claims are based on injuries allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos-containing friction products made by Federal-Mogul Corp. and its affiliates.

"All of the Removed …