There also have been questions about whether people who don't want to join the settlement "class" were adequately informed. People who wanted to be excluded, remaining free to sue CCR companies, had to inform the court by Jan. 24.

The settlement, filed in January 1993, received preliminary approval in October by Judge Reed, who ruled that accusations of collusion between the two firms and the CCR were unfounded.

Philadelphia lawyer Ben Shein said the law firms didn't do enough to determine whether defendants could afford to pay without a settlement. The National Asbestos Victims Legal Action Organizing Committee estimates the CCR members have $ 53.6 billion in assets.

But backers said draining company assets has driven 17 former asbestos manufacturers into bankruptcy. Locks said the settlement requires insurers to pay when necessary, helping guarantee defendants solvency as cases mount.

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