Judge Considering Move to Consolidating Calif. Silica Cases for Trial

OAKLAND, Calif. - The judge overseeing the coordinated state court silica litigation in California says he is inclined to grant a motion by plaintiffs to consolidate cases for trial that have been pending on the docket for nearly five years. Acker v. A-1 Aggregates, et al., No. RG06274039 (Calif. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty.).

Judge Robert B. Freedman said in an order last month that the order would be granted if it could be shown that "net efficiencies" would result from a move away from the 47- case silica docket's traditional means of setting cases for trial.

In a motion filed …