N.Y. Court Remands Asbestos Action, Rejects Federal Officer Removal by Crane Co.

BUFFALO, N.Y. –– An upstate New York federal court has remanded an asbestos case, adopting a magistrate judge’s recommendation that remand was proper since Crane Co. had not established that exposure occurred on board U.S. naval vessels.

In a Dec. 13 order adopting the report and recommendation, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York agreed that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction.

The underlying claims were asserted on behalf of Edward Clayton. According to the plaintiffs, Clayton was exposed to asbestos while working with Crane Co. valves and pumps while serving in the U.S. …