Court Finds General Order 29 Conflicts with State's Work Product Doctrine

LOS ANGELES -- A California appellate court has reversed the dismissal of defendants from an asbestos action, finding that a state court's case management order governing asbestos actions is invalid because it requires the plaintiff to produce information protected under the work-product doctrine. Snyder, et al. v. Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, et al., No. B197993 (Calif. Ct. App., 2nd Dist., Div. 2).

On Dec. 18, the California Second District Court of Appeal issued a peremptory writ of mandate directing the lower court to reverse its dismissal of the case, after the …