Maryland Court Remands Majority of Asbestos Claims; Severs and Retains Jurisdiction over Claims Against Crane Co.

BALTIMORE –– A Maryland federal court has denied an asbestos plaintiff’s motion to remand, instead severing the claims of Crane Co. after finding that it was the only defendant that had raised a federal defense.

In the March 7 order, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland found that since the rest of the claims asserted by the plaintiffs are based in state law, severance was appropriate.

The court did, however, deny the plaintiff’s attempts to sever claims relating to Crane Co.’s gaskets from claims relating to the defendant’s valve products.

The lawsuit was filed …