Philadelphia Order Sets Guidelines for Discovery in Silica Cases

PHILADELPHIA - Counsel in the Philadelphia Silica Litigation have received guidelines for conducting discovery in the nearly 100 cases pending in Common Pleas Court that allege injury resulting from silica exposure that occurred at a Pennsylvania foundry. In Re: Silica Products Liability Litigation, March Term 2003, No. 0001 (Pa. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

In a case management order entered May 20, Judge Ackerman set parameters for written discovery, depositions and the gathering of medical records, among other things. The order, the second since the court consolidated all silica claims in a special docket earlier this year, requires defendants to serve …