Judge Passes on 3M Motion to Sever; Orders Parties to Work on Trial Arrangement

HAZLEHURST, Miss. - A Mississippi judge has held in abeyance a defense motion to sever a 20-plaintiff silica case pending in his jurisdiction. Johnson, et al. v. American Optical Corp., et al., No. 2002-0030 (Miss. Cir. Ct., Copiah Cty.).

According to sources, the Copiah County Circuit Court judge has ordered both parties to try and reach an agreement on how the case, which is scheduled for trial in March, will proceed.

In late October, defendant 3M moved to sever the claims, arguing that the confusion created by the circumstances of the multiple alleged exposures would make it too difficult to …