August 21, 2002
Willkie partner and former New York State governor Mario M. Cuomo was recently appointed by a federal bankruptcy judge to mediate an asbestos-related dispute in the Johns-Manville Corporation bankruptcy cases.
Willkie partner and former New York State governor Mario M. Cuomo was recently appointed by a federal bankruptcy judge to mediate an asbestos-related dispute in the Johns-Manville Corporation bankruptcy cases. In its order appointing Governor Cuomo as mediator, the bankruptcy judge noted that this dispute presented "special circumstances" and implicated "public interest issues." The dispute is among the parties to 27 individual, consolidated and class action lawsuits filed against Travelers Indemnity Company, certain of its affiliates and other parties. In their pleadings, the plaintiffs allege generally that certain Travelers business practices gave rise to tort damages. Travelers disputes these allegations, and has brought this matter before the bankruptcy court, arguing that the lawsuits are enjoined and/or released under a Court-approved settlement entered into in connection with the creation of the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust. The lawsuits, which are currently pending in state courts in Massachusetts, West Virginia, Louisiana and Texas, involve thousands of plaintiffs, including approximately 18,000 plaintiffs in West Virginia alone.