Miss. Sup. Ct. Severs Asbestos Claims, Calls Case 'A Perversion' of System

JACKSON, Miss. - Months after ruling that severance may not be appropriate in mass actions involving exposure to asbestos, the Mississippi Supreme Court has severed a multi-plaintiff asbestos case, calling the joinder of the more than 250 claims a 'perversion of the judicial system.' Harold's Auto Parts, Inc., et al. v. Flower Mangialardi, et al., No. 2004-IA-01308-SCT (Miss. Sup. Ct.).

In a decision handed down Aug. 26, the state's high court took issue not with the plaintiffs' alleged failure to comply with Rule 20's joinder requirements, but with their apparent failure to disclose core information about the underlying claims asserted …