Court Orders Jurisdictional Discovery to Determine Connection between Ford Motor and Irish, English Departments

NEW YORK –– A New York court has ordered parties to undergo jurisdictional discovery in an asbestos case in order to determine the relationship between Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) and Ireland-based Henry Ford & Son Ltd., and English-based Ford Motor Company, Ltd.

In the May 17 order, the New York Supreme Court for New York County found that the plaintiffs had provided enough evidence to warrant a further examination about whether the court can exercise personal jurisdiction over the foreign defendants based on their relationship with a domestic company.

Plaintiffs Raymond and Mary Finerty filed the lawsuit. In the complaint, …