A New York federal judge on Wednesday blocked Johnson & Johnson’s attempt to remove an asbestos-injury lawsuit from state court because the defendants had not followed the necessary steps under federal law.

In a seven-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. of the Southern District of New York said that removal could only take effect after defendants meet “three distinct procedural requirements,” including filing a notice of removal with the federal court, giving notice to the opposing parties and filing a copy of the removal notice with the appropriate state court.