Calif. Court Considering Separate Liability Trial

OAKLAND, Calif. - A California trial court has scheduled a hearing for May 28 on a motion by a group of bridge welders for a separate, consolidated trial on liability against all defendants. Aguirre v. ESAB, et al., No. RG-05-212890 [In re: Welding Products Cases, No. JCCP004368] (Calif. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty.).

Francisco Aguirre and his co-plaintiffs filed their motion on April 30, saying that the liability issues are the same for the 48 plaintiffs who are suing over alleged injuries that occurred while they were employed as welders on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

"In addition to products liability …