Jowers Defendants Cite 'Errors' in Asking for New Trial

NEW ORLEANS - Welding product manufacturers appealing the $2.42 million verdict in favor of Robert Jowers argue in their opening brief to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals that the trial court made several errors at trial, including rulings that removed "critical" government-contractor and joint-tortfeasor defenses. Jowers v. BOC group Inc., et al., No. 09-60396 (5th Cir.).

BOC Group and other appellants also contend that Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley, who presides over the federal multi-district litigation and personally presided over the bellwether trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, misapplied the law on punitive …