Court Rejects Defendant's Reliance on Doctrine of Laches

BOSTON -- A Massachusetts Appeals Court has rejected A.W. Chesterton's use of the doctrine of laches, ruling that the asbestos defendant failed to prove that an insurer's actions were unjustifiably delayed. A.W. Chesterton Co. v. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund, No. SJC-09498 (Mass. Sup. Jud. Ct.).

In a Dec. 12 opinion, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a ruling finding a fourth policy issued to the asbestos defendant void.

According to the opinion, A.W. Chesterton, a manufacturer and distributor of asbestos products, purchased primary comprehensive general liability insurance policies and multiple layers of excess indemnity policies.

After A.W. Chesterton exhausted its …