Va. Drywall Defendants Question PSC Bid to Stop Outside Settlements

NEW ORLEANS - Two defendants named primarily in Virginia drywall cases have objected to motions filed recently in the federal MDL aimed at reining in outside settlements that are negotiated without input or notice to plaintiffs in the coordinated proceedings. Germano, et al. v. Taishan Gypsum Co., et al., No. 09-6687 (E.D. La.).

In a brief filed Feb. 9 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Venture Supply Co. and The Porter-Blaine Co. contend that the scope of the MDL plaintiffs' request goes beyond the court's authority and contradicts a stance taken in the earlier stages of …