Wash. Court Grants Asbestos Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion to Remand Case; Cites Pending Settlement with Non-Diverse Defendant

TACOMA, Wash. –– A Washington federal court has granted an emergency motion to remand a case that was removed just five days before the asbestos trial was scheduled to begin.

In the Feb. 18 order, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington found that since the settlement agreement reached with the lone remaining non-diverse defendant has not been finalized, the state court’s jurisdiction over the matter is still appropriate.

The underlying asbestos litigation lawsuit, filed by plaintiff Wesley G. Allen, was set for trial on Feb. 19, the District Court noted.

On Feb. 12, however, Allen …