Missouri Court Reconsiders, Grants CBS’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of General Jurisdiction in Asbestos Case

ST. LOUIS –– A Missouri federal court has reconsidered –– and granted –– CBS Corp.’s motion to dismiss asbestos claims asserted against it for lack of general jurisdiction, saying that a recent Missouri Supreme Court holding clarified that complying with a state’s foreign corporate registration statute does not operate as consent to jurisdiction.

In the April 21 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri noted that prior to the state high court’s decision, compliance with the registration statute did operate as consent to the jurisdiction of that state’s courts.

The plaintiffs asserted the claims on behalf …