CCR Settlements Are No Good Without GAF's Signature, Court Says

SAN FRANCISCO - A California appeals court has reversed an order to enforce several asbestos settlements negotiated by the Center for Claims Resolution (CCR) on behalf of GAF Corp. because, according to the decision, no one from GAF ever signed the agreements. Gauss, et al. v. GAF Corp., A091299 (Calif. App. Ct., First Dist.).

Despite a 'reluctance' to do so, the First District California Court of Appeal on Nov. 25 held that a party cannot be held under California law to the terms of a settlement signed by the party's agent, even when that agent - in this case the …