Court Orders Plaintiffs to Share Medical and Psychological Histories With Metals Plant

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A federal magistrate judge has overruled plaintiffs’ objections to requests for medical and psychological histories by a metals plant they claim exposed them to mercury and other contaminants, saying they have placed their histories at issue by seeking monitoring for neurotoxic injuries. Ballard, et al. v. Union Carbide Corp., et al., No. 2:11-cv-00366 (S.D. W.Va.).

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary E. Stanley granted defendants’ motion to compel in part June 8, ordering the West Virginia plant’s workers and neighbors to fully answer interrogatories that also seek information on drug and alcohol use.

The plaintiffs filed suit in …