Judge Remands Asbestos Suits Removed by Friction Defendants

WILMINGTON, Del. -- The Big Three auto makers and several other friction product defendants named in asbestos lawsuits around the country have failed in their attempt to have the claims transferred to federal bankruptcy court.

In an order issued immediately following argument over whether his court had jurisdiction over the transferred claims, Judge Alfred M. Wolin on Friday remanded the asbestos personal injury lawsuits to the state courts from where they came.

Judge Wolin told the standing-room-only court in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del., that his court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over most, if not all, cases that had …