Silica Plaintiffs Seek Consolidation After Defendants' Successful Request in Nearby County

HAZLEHURST, Miss. - Following a recently granted defense motion to consolidate several silica claims in Hinds County, Miss., plaintiffs in two cases filed in nearby Copiah County have now moved to join their claims.

Plaintiffs in Johnson v. American Optical Corp., et al., No. 2002-0030 and Underwood v. American Optical Corp., et al., No. 2002-0027 moved to consolidate their claims in late September in Copiah County Circuit Court.

Both cases were filed in January and allege injury caused by exposure to silica and had been treated as if they were consolidated for discovery purposes, according to the motion, which plaintiffs …