'Removing' the Sting from Asbestos Litigation
by Marte J. Bassi, Esq. and Jeremy D. Huie, Esq.

About the Authors Marte J. Bassi is a partner at Bassi, Martini & Blum LLP and the West Coast Regional Contributing Editor for Columns-Asbestos. Jeremy D. Huie is an associate at Bassi, Martini & Blum LLP in San Francisco. The firm represents premises and product liability defendants in California asbestos litigation.

I. INTRODUCTION

A procedural tactic that is being employed more frequently in the asbestos litigation by defendants who have a basis is to remove the case to federal court. If a plaintiff fails to have the case remanded to state court, then the case is transferred to …