6th Cir. Affirms Summary Judgment for 3M, American Optical on Miner's Untimely Silica Claims

CINCINNATI – A federal appeals court has affirmed summary judgment for 3M (NYSE: MMM) and American Optical on claims that their respirators failed to protect a miner from developing silica-related disease.

The 6th Circuit held May 31 that a lower court correctly ruled that a miner's initial claims of silica-related pneumoconoiosis were untimely and that an express claim of lung cancer in a proposed amended complaint would fall outside Mississippi's relevant statute of limitations, as well.

Jim Boggs alleged that he was exposed to coal dust, despite the use of respirators, while working as an underground minder from 1972 to …