(March 7, 2018, 12:53 PM EST) -- CINCINNATI — The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on March 6 consolidated nine cases involving hundreds of plaintiffs challenging the federal asbestos multidistrict litigation judge’s finding that he lacked jurisdiction over the actions and that the defendant ship owners had not waived the defense (James Matthews, et al. v. Chas Kurz & Co. Inc., et al., Nos. 16-4146, 16-4269, 16-4354, 16-4757, 17-3238, 17-3480, 17-3915, 17-3918, 18-3077, 6th Cir.)....