OTHER NEWS - July 30, 1996

Fibreboard Asbestos Settlements Upheld: Fibreboard Corp. said a federal appeals court upheld the settlement of more than $3 billion for claims by asbestos disease victims. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled last week that a so-called global settlement among Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Fibreboard, its insurers and representatives in a class-action suit by asbestos disease victims can go forward. Under the settlement, Fibreboard’s insurers are to pay off existing settlements and assume responsibility for any claims filed before Aug. 27, 1993. The settlement bars future claims against the company and its insurers, Pacific Indemnity, a unit of Chubb Corp., and Continental Casualty, a unit of CNA Financial Corp. The case can still be appealed. Attorneys for the plaintiffs could not be reached for comment. In May, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia threw out a $1.3-billion settlement among class-action plaintiffs and 20 former asbestos manufacturers. Fibreboard was not involved in that case.