Maryland High Court Leaves Door Open for Addition of Tobacco Defendants to Asbestos Cases Pending in Baltimore’s Docket

ANNAPOLIS, Md. –– Maryland’s highest court has affirmed dismissal of an appeal involving an attempt by asbestos plaintiffs to join tobacco defendants to their case, but left the door open for such companies to be added to the asbestos cases in the future, provided the joinder is done in a timely fashion.

In its July 5 opinion, the Maryland Court of Appeals found that, in the instant case, it would be hard-pressed to permit such joinder since the plaintiffs did not ask the court for permission to add the tobacco defendants until 15 months after the case was initiated.

However, …