Louisiana Court Declines to Dismiss Asbestos Suit in ‘Direct Action’ Dispute

NEW ORLEANS –– A Louisiana federal court has denied a motion to dismiss an asbestos suit, rejecting the defendants’ position that the plaintiff was required to include Asbestos Corporation Limited in the underlying suit.

In the July 3 order, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana wrote that the state’s direct action statute does not require the plaintiff to include the party.

Mary Morvant brought the asbestos-related suit.

The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint, contending that Asbestos Corporation Limited was a required party in the matter. The plaintiffs opposed the defense efforts to dismiss, arguing that …