Miss. Couple Names Experts But Objects to Filing Mandate

ACKERMAN, Miss. -- Mississippi benzene plaintiffs have complied with an order requiring them to name potential expert witnesses, but are contesting the requirement to do so, saying that such an order violates Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. Simmons, et al. v. First Chemical Corp., et al., No. 2004-0036-CV-M (Miss. Cir. Ct., Choctaw Cty.).

In the April 21 pleading filed in the Mississippi Circuit Court for Choctaw County, Watson and Mary Simmons objected to the necessity of the filing, saying that 'the pleading is neither authorized by, nor required by any rule or law in the State of Mississippi.'

In a …