Federal Judge Remands Cases Removed By Friction Defendants

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - About 160 West Virginia asbestos lawsuits removed to federal court recently by friction defendants who claim the suits have a connection to the Federal-Mogul bankruptcy have been returned to state court. In Re Asbestos Litigation, No. 2:01-1055, et al. (S.D. W. Va.).

Noting that a mechanism to adjudicate the claims has already been put in place in state court and that "federal courts ought not to intrude on state court proceedings, except where law and equity require it," U.S. Judge Charles H. Haden ordered the remand Dec. 7.

The Southern District of West Virginia judge said …