Calif. Court Denies Lorillard’s Efforts to Stay Case Pending Appeal of Remand Order

LOS ANGELES –– A California federal court has refused to stay proceedings in an asbestos case, opining that the defendant seeking the stay will most likely not succeed in its appeal of a jurisdictional dispute.

In the Aug. 21 order, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California reinforced its findings in two prior remand orders in which the court determined that it did not have jurisdiction over the claims.

In December 2011, the plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in state court, contending that Dimitris O. Couscouris developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. In May …