September 27, 2021
A New Jersey federal judge on Monday granted final approval to a $100 million settlement to resolve claims that BASF Catalysts LLC's predecessor and its former counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP concealed that industrial and commercial talc from a Vermont mine may contain asbestos.
July 23, 2020
BASF and its former counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP have reached a proposed $73 million settlement over claims they concealed that industrial and commercial talc from a Vermont mine may contain asbestos, according to a motion for preliminary approval filed Thursday in New Jersey federal court.
June 20, 2018
A bitter discovery fight heated up further Wednesday in a suit accusing BASF and former counsel Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP of destroying proof of asbestos in talc from a mine that, in other litigation, is claimed to have been a supplier to Johnson & Johnson, as plaintiffs' firm Cohen Placitella & Roth PC disputed terms governing the handover of its referral deal with a major fact witness.
January 04, 2018
BASF Catalysts LLC urged a New Jersey federal court Wednesday to compel a proposed class accusing the company's subsidiary Engelhard Corp. of concealing the presence of asbestos in talc products to respond to discovery requests about damages and class certification, rejecting the plaintiffs' argument the request is premature.
November 03, 2017
A proposed class in an asbestos fraud action against a subsidiary of BASF Catalysts LLC called on a New Jersey federal court Thursday to determine whether BASF and its lawyers must turn over privileged material under the state crime-fraud exception.
September 22, 2017
A New Jersey federal judge on Thursday ruled that a former New Jersey Supreme Court justice and current Ballard Spahr LLP partner will remain the special discovery master in a proposed asbestos fraud class action, rejecting defendants' claims that the onetime jurist has conflicts of interest.
September 07, 2017
Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Roberto A. Rivera-Soto fired back at opposition to his appointment as special master in an asbestos fraud class action in New Jersey federal court, saying in a certification Wednesday that there's no impropriety despite his former and current firms' connection to the parties.
September 05, 2017
A New Jersey federal judge on Tuesday stopped short of deciding whether a former New Jersey Supreme Court justice and current Ballard Spahr LLP partner should remain the special discovery master in a proposed asbestos fraud class action after learning that defense counsel is no longer representing the firm in separate litigation.
September 01, 2017
A proposed class accusing BASF Catalysts LLC and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP of destroying evidence in cases alleging BASF talc contained asbestos continues to refuse discovery requests for information about the underlying suits, despite a district judge's order that it's warranted, counsel for BASF told a magistrate judge Thursday.
August 14, 2017
BASF Catalysts LLC and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP on Monday again urged a New Jersey federal court to replace a former New Jersey Supreme Court justice as the special discovery master in a proposed asbestos fraud class action against them, saying it should be possible to appoint someone without conflicts.