New York Justice Orders Guidelines for Deferred Asbestos Docket

NEW YORK - A New York Supreme Court judge has adopted new regulations for a deferred docket to help speed resolution of the more than 20,000 asbestos personal injury claims pending in her jurisdiction. In Re: New York City Asbestos Litigation, No. 40000/88 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty.).

In an order entered Dec. 19, New York County Justice Helen E. Freedman noted the sudden proliferation of so-called 'unimpaired' claims now pending in her jurisdiction and said that a new system is needed to preserve funds to compensate the present and future claimants suffering from more serious asbestos-related injuries.

'The …