Judge: Asbestos Defendants Cannot Amend Defenses After Insurer’s Insolvency

Mealey's (December 17, 2021, 11:14 AM EST) -- NEW ORLEANS — Allowing asbestos defendants to amend their answers or defenses to allow for new defenses in light of their insurer’s insolvency would impermissibly disturb the progression of a case already delayed numerous times and ready for trial since January 2020, a federal judge said Dec. 14 in reversing a magistrate judge’s ruling and denying one insured’s motion to reopen discovery....