Judge Says Order Transferring Bankruptcies Was 'Improvidently' Entered

WILMINGTON, Del. - Less than a week after a federal judge ordered the transfer and consolidation of five pending asbestos-related bankruptcies, the judge assigned to oversee their administration has issued his own directive indicating that the transfer was "improvidently" entered.

By order entered Dec. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Judge Alfred M. Wolin said the order that began the transfer of the bankruptcy cases needs to be altered in certain respects.

Judge Wolin, who normally sits in the District of New Jersey, was assigned to oversee the bankruptcies of five asbestos defendants …