Miss. Defendants Move to Re-align E.D. Bullard with Silica Plaintiff

PORT GIBSON, Miss. - Defendants in an upcoming Mississippi silica trial have moved to re-align co-defendant E.D. Bullard with the plaintiffs, based on allegations that the company made an undisclosed strategic agreement with plaintiffs' counsel prior to a silicosis trial last year. Westrope v. Pangborn Corp., et al., No. 2007-40 (Miss. Cir. Ct., Claiborne Cty.).

In the March 9 motion, which alternatively seeks severance of Bullard into an independent action, the defendants argue that Bullard has agreed to act as a plaintiff in the case against co-defendants in exchange for outright dismissal.

They cite as evidence Bullard's alleged behavior in …