Asbestos Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand Denied; Maryland Court Retains Jurisdiction of Naval Exposure Claims

BALTIMORE –– An asbestos plaintiff’s motion to remand has been denied after a Maryland federal court found that the removal was not untimely.

In the Oct. 29 order, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland found that the defendants were not put on notice that removal was available until the plaintiff named specific U.S. Naval ships in his interrogatory answers.

Plaintiff Stephen Ross filed the lawsuit, arguing that his work as a student, welder, mechanic and laborer caused him to be exposed to asbestos-containing for more than 40 years. As a result of his exposure, Ross …