Calif. Plaintiff Challenges 'Attorney-Consultant' Privilege Claim

OAKLAND, Calif. - California bridge welder Richard Wacht has asked a trial court to order an industrial hygiene defendant to produce documents related to its consulting work following a Texas explosion, saying the "attorney-consultant" privilege claimed does not exist. Aguirre, et al. v. ESAB, et al., No. JCCP 4368 [Case No. RG05212890] (Calif. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty.).

Wacht, whose case is scheduled to be tried in January in the coordinated California proceedings in Alameda County Superior Court, say the documents sought relate to "confined space" issues studied by IHI Environmental Inc. and are similar to work conditions experienced by plaintiff …