N.J. Federal Court Remands Asbestos Action, Cites Presence of Forum Defendant

TRENTON, N.J. –– A New Jersey federal court has remanded an asbestos action, finding that the plaintiffs had properly named a forum defendant in an amended lawsuit filed prior to removal.

In the March 10 order, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey wrote that while the presence of the forum defendant justifies remand, the removal was also improper for failure to annex documents and for failure to gain unanimous consent from all the defendants.

The plaintiffs brought the claims on behalf of Clarence Ralph Hosford, an Iowa citizen. Hosford, according to the plaintiffs was exposed …