Johns Manville Trust Withdraws Contribution Lawsuit; Won't Pursue Big Tobacco

NEW YORK - The Johns Manville Personal Injury Trust has surrendered its right to pursue a contribution claim against several tobacco companies for payment of claims to those injured by their asbestos-containing products. Falise v. American Tobacco, et al., No. 99cv7392 (E.D. N.Y.).

In a stipulation of dismissal filed June 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the trust voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit, effectively giving up its right to refile the suit as Falise v. American Tobacco, according to a statement issued by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Falise was well known because it was …