MATTER OF NEW YORK CITY ASBESTOS LITIGATION v. BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

11176N, 190468/12, 190315/12, 190367/12.

111 A.D.3d 574 (2013)

975 N.Y.S.2d 660

2013 NY Slip Op 7854

In the Matter of NEW YORK CITY ASBESTOS LITIGATION. ESTER BARUCH et al., Plaintiffs, v. BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION et al., Defendants. KARL FERSCH et al., Respondents, v. AMCHEM PRODUCTS INC. et al., Defendants, and VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC., Appellant.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department.

Decided November 26, 2013.


Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Barbara Jaffe, J.), entered August 22, 2013, which, to the extent appealed from, granted plaintiffs' motion pursuant to CPLR 602 to consolidate to the extent of consolidating the cases of Juni, Fersch and Middleton for trial, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Given that all three plaintiffs were exposed to asbestos products for vehicles in their work as mechanics over a substantially overlapping period of 40 years, and each is represented by the same counsel, and each case is trial ready, it cannot be said that the IAS court abused its discretion in ordering the three cases consolidated for trial (see Malcolm v National Gypsum Co., 995 F.2d 346, 350-352 [2d Cir 1993]). While there are some differences, including that one plaintiff has mesothelioma while the other two have lung cancer, and other differences pointed out by defendant, this does not outweigh the substantial overlap of factual and legal issues, or suggest the prejudice of defendant's right to a fair trial (see Matter of New York City Asbestos Litig., 2011 NY Slip Op 31210[U], *5-7 [Sup Ct, NY County 2011]).


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