Ill. Judge Dismisses Three Asbestos Claims Filed by Out-of-State Plaintiffs

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- A Madison County, Ill. judge who recently took over the court's asbestos docket has dismissed three asbestos lawsuits after finding that none of the plaintiffs ever lived or worked in Illinois. Palmer, et al. v. Riley Stoker Corporation, et al., No. 04-L-167 (Ill. Cir. Ct., Madison Cty.).

In an Oct. 4 order, Judge Daniel J. Stack of the Illinois 3rd Judicial Circuit Court for Madison County rejected the out-of-state plaintiffs' contention that because there was a high likelihood that the cases would settle, the citizens of Madison County would not bear any significant burden as a result …