In re Federal-Mogul Global, Inc

On August 1, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit declined to order consolidation, in the bankruptcy court, of all asbestos cases related to asbestos claims Federal-Mogul Global (FMG), an automobile parts manufacturer forced into bankruptcy by an avalanche of asbestos lawsuits. The decision was a setback for WLF, which had sought consolidation as a means of ensuring consistent and efficient consideration of all claims — against numerous companies — based on FMG’s manufacture of brake parts containing asbestos. The Third Circuit held that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal from a lower court’s denial of consolidation.