September 11, 2003


Administrative File No. 2003-47


IN RE PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE
ORDER OR COURT RULE ESTABLISHING
INACTIVE ASBESTOS DOCKETING SYSTEM
                                             SC: 124213
___________________________________________


     On order of the Court, this is to advise that the Court is considering the following
proposal: "Should the Michigan Supreme Court, under its general
administrative power to control the procedures of all lower courts in the state,
establish a court rule or administrative order creating a consolidated inactive
asbestos docketing system for claimants with nonmalignant asbestos-related
conditions who evidence no physical or functional impairment, whereby such
claimants, upon discovery of such condition, may file a notice with the Wayne
County Circuit Court and serve all defendants, thereby tolling the statute of
limitations, and remain on the inactive docket until objective medical criteria
indicate that the asbestos-related condition has developed into a physical
injury?"
     
     Before determining whether the proposal should be adopted, and what
features an inactive asbestos docket should have, this notice is given to
afford interested persons the opportunity to comment on the form or the
merits of the proposal, or to suggest alternatives.  The Court welcomes the
views of all.  In addition, this matter will be considered at a public hearing. 
Notices for such hearings are posted at
www.courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt, along with instructions for
reserving time to address the Justices in person. 
     
      Publication of this proposal does not mean that the Court will issue an
order on the subject, nor does it imply probable adoption of the proposal.
     
     A copy of this order will be given to the secretary of the State Bar and
to the State Court Administrator so that they can make the notifications
specified in MCR 1.201.  Comments on these proposals may be sent to the
Supreme Court Clerk in writing or electronically by January 1, 2004, at P.O.
Box 30052, Lansing, Ml 48909, or MSC_clerk@courts.mi.gov.  When filing a
comment, please refer to Administrative File No. 2003-47. Your comments will
be posted with the comments of others at
www.courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/resources/administrative/indexes
/htm.