NYC Plaintiffs Counsel Objects to ‘Unreasonable Delays’ in Implementing New Punitive Damages Protocol

NEW YORK –– Plaintiffs in New York City’s coordinated asbestos docket have objected to an extension sought by defendants to respond to a punitive damages discovery scheduling proposal, arguing that the delay will preclude the plaintiffs from seeking punitive damages in the Oct. 2014 trial group.

In a June 27 letter to Judge Sherry Klein Heitler of the New York Supreme Court for New York County, the plaintiffs say that the defense request to delay the response deadline to July 8 will “cause an unreasonable delay.”

Judge Heitler recently ended an 18-year-long deferral on punitive damages in the city’s asbestos …