Claims Against Premises, Manufacturer Defendants Can Be Cumulatively Joined in Asbestos Action, Court Holds

BATON ROUGE, La. - A Louisiana appeals court recently upheld a trial court decision that allowed numerous asbestos claims filed against manufacturers and premises owners to be solidarily joined, despite assertions by the defendants that there was no 'community of interest' among the parties. Pierce, et al. v. Reilly-Benton Company, Inc., et al., No. 2002-C-2253 (La. Ct. App., Fourth Cir.).

The Fourth Circuit Louisiana Appeals Court affirmed the lower court's decision on April 16, determining that the use of cumulation of actions against the various defendants would best serve 'the ends of efficient and just adjudication of the asbestos cases.'