N.Y. Court Grants Motion to Dismiss, Says Federal and State Cases Parallel

NEW YORK-A New York federal court has dismissed an asbestos coverage action against Philips Electronics North America Corp. on abstention grounds, finding that pre-existing lawsuits in other states parallel the New York action. The Travelers Indemnity Company, et al. v. Philips Electronics North America Corporation, et al. No. 02 Civ. 9800 (S.D. N.Y.)

In a Feb. 3 decision, Judge William H. Pauley III of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stated that because there are already lawsuits in Illinois and Texas, the New York suit would cause a 'vexatious' waste of judicial resources and 'gratuitous …