Judge Dismisses Fraudulent Concealment Claim

CLEVELAND, Ohio - U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley has dismissed a fraudulent concealment claim brought against welding manufacturers by an Iowa couple, ruling that the claim is not viable under Iowa law. Cooley v. Lincoln Electric Co., et al., No. 1:05-CV-17734 (N.D. Ohio).

Judge O'Malley, who presides over the federal multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, issued an order on Aug. 31 dismissing the count from the lawsuit brought by Curt and Nancy Cooley, whose claims are currently in trial.

Curt Cooley, a former welder, alleges that defendants "failed to disclose …