Texas Judge Remands Friction Claims Not Subject to Bankruptcy Court's Provisional Transfer Order

EL PASO, Texas - A federal judge in Texas has remanded part of an asbestos lawsuit that was removed to federal court by the Big Three auto makers because they claim it's "related to" co-defendant Federal-Mogul's Chapter 11 reorganization. Thomson v. Able Supply Co, et al., No. EP-01-CA-432-DB (W.D. Texas).

The judge, U.S. District Judge David Briones of the Southern District of Texas, issued the order remanding the claims on Jan. 4, but only on condition they are not subject to an order that provisionally transferred several dozen suits to Delaware bankruptcy court.

Judge Alfred M. Wolin, who is overseeing …