County lawsuit alleges Sempra violated asbestos laws (San Diego Daily Transcript via Yahoo! News)
The county of San Diego filed a lawsuit against Sempra Energy and San Diego Gas & Electric for violating asbestos-removal laws, and is seeking civil penalties that could exceed $1 million.

Suit Over Asbestos Claim Is Settled (Los Angeles Times)
A Seal Beach Leisure World woman, whose home was unnecessarily cleared, wins $30,000. A Seal Beach Leisure World resident who sued the retirement community after losing virtually all her belongings because of a false asbestos alarm has won nearly $30,000 in a court settlement.

BFD concerned about asbestos at Silver Lake headquarters (Observer)
BELLEVILLE �� A recent Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health inspection, which town officials requested confidentially to check for asbestos in the firehouses, came back positive for contamination in the basement of the Silver Lake Firehouse, according to officials.

McDermott OKs new asbestos deal; shares surge (CBS Market Watch)
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Shares of McDermott International Inc. jumped higher in pre-open trading Tuesday after it announced it had reached a revised settlement with groups representing asbestos claimants in the bankruptcy proceedings of its subsidiary, Babcock & Wilcox.

(AFX UK Focus) 2005-08-30 14:43 GMT: Equitas announces 300 mln stg in new asbestos settlements UPDATE (Interactive Investor)
(Adds detail, background) LONDON (AFX) - Equitas, the unlisted company set up to settle potentially crippling asbestos-related claims against Lloyds of London insurers, said it has negotiated settlements with a further six policyholders at a cost of 300 mln usd (167 mln stg).