Court Finds No Legally Appointed Representatives Exist, Denies Proposed Settlements

NEW YORK - A state court judge has denied applications for approval of wrongful death claim settlements for two plaintiffs alleging exposure to asbestos, after finding that there were no legally appointed representatives for the respective estates. In re: 7th Judicial District Asbestos Litigation, No. 10175/02 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. Cty.).

In a June 7 opinion, Judge Raymond E. Cornelius of the New York County Supreme Court found that the widows of the two deceased plaintiffs had either been appointed long after the wrongful death complaints were filed, or not at all.

In denying the settlement approvals, the Court relied …