Pa. Court Denies 3M’s Motion for Summary Judgment in Silica Exposure Action

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. –– A Pennsylvania federal court has denied 3M’s motion for summary judgment in a silica exposure action, saying that while the plaintiffs had not presented evidence regarding levels of airborne respirable silica, there is “record evidence” that a sheet metal worker such as the plaintiff would be overexposed to airborne respirable silica when wearing the defendant’s mask.

In a June 15 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania opined that there was a question of material fact as to whether the plaintiff was inadequately protected from respirable silica based on a defect in 3M’s …