Court's Asbestos 'Sophistication' Not Enough to Spur Venue Transfer

TACOMA, Wash. - Sophistication of a trial court in handling asbestos claims is not a factor that may be considered in determining a motion to change venue, a Washington state appeals court has ruled. Hatley v. Saberhagen Holdings, Inc., No. 28394-8-II (Wash. App. Ct., Div. II).

In an Aug. 5 decision reversing a trial judge's order to move plaintiff Carl Hatley's asbestos case to a neighboring county, the Washington Court of Appeals said that the transferee court's sophisticated procedures for handling such claims should have been excluded from the discussion of whether the case belonged in the venue where Hatley …