Defendants in Mississippi Asbestos Action Allege Fraudulent Joinder, Citing Uncommon Claims

JACKSON, Miss. - Defendants in two massive Mississippi asbestos actions removed recently to federal court are arguing that the claims should be thrown out or at the very least severed because the plaintiffs have failed to allege common exposure circumstances that could justify the joinder of the more than 400 defendants that are party to the complaints. Clark v. Abex Corp., et al., No. 1:01cv125 (S.D. Miss.); Bankston v. Westinghouse Electric Corp., et al., No. 1:01cv162 (S.D. Miss.).

In separate motions filed in April, defendants in Clark v. Abex Corp. and Bankston v. Westinghouse Electric Corp. allege that the plaintiffs …