Court Enters Default Judgment Against Socra Corp. in Miss. Welding Case

CLEVELAND - A federal judge has granted a welding fume plaintiff's motion for default judgment against Socra Corp., saying the plaintiff would suffer prejudice if the motion were denied and concluding that Socra's service-of-process defense is not meritorious. Jerkins v. Lincoln Electric Co., No. 1:04-CV-18810 (N.D. Ohio).

U.S. Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley, who presides over the Welding Fume Products MDL in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, said in her Aug. 26 order that the court would schedule a hearing on damages.

Judge O'Malley noted in her order memorializing the default judgment that the clerk …