Silica Plaintiffs Not Required to Disclose 3M Settlements to MSA, Judges Rule

ST LOUIS - Two federal judges presiding over silica cases in Missouri have issued orders denying an emergency motion by Mine Safety Appliances to compel disclosure of confidential settlement agreements the plaintiffs entered into with co-defendant 3M Co. Midkiff v. 3M Co., et al., No. 08-1219; Scaggs v. 3M Co., et al., No. 08-1163 (E.D. Mo.).

Judges Donald J. Stohr and E. Richard Webber of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri ruled Oct. 18 and Oct. 15, respectively, that settlement amounts reached during the course of litigation should be made a matter of record only after …