Judge Refuses to Delay Owens Corning Proceedings Over Nonmalignant Claims Issue

WILMINGTON, Del. -- The judge overseeing the Owens Corning bankruptcy proceedings has rejected a motion seeking a continuance of an upcoming hearing in order to allow more time for establishing procedural guidelines for dealing with claimants alleging nonmalignant injuries. In re: Owens Corning, et al., No. 00-3837 (Del. Bankr.).

In a Nov. 22 order, Judge John Fullam of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware found that it was necessary instead to determine what amount of money will be needed to cover Owens Corning's asbestos liabilities and then structure a program that only recognizes what he called legitimate …