N.Y. Appellate Court Rejects Efforts to Separate Coal Tar and Asbestos Claims

ROCHESTER, N.Y. –– A New York appellate court has affirmed a trial court order keeping claims arising out of asbestos and coal tar exposure together, ruling that the defendants have not proven they would be prejudiced by trying the claims jointly.

In the May 3 two-page opinion, the 4th Judicial Department of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, further found that several arguments raised by the defendants in their efforts to sever the coal tar pitch exposure claims from the asbestos claims were not properly before the court.

Anthony Seymour filed the lawsuit, contending that he was injured …