Liberty Mutual: Silica Plaintiffs' Subpoena is 'Offensive,' a 'Fishing Expedition'

BOSTON - Plaintiffs in a Mississippi silica case who subpoenaed the deposition testimony of a Liberty Mutual Insurance Company official are 'fishing' for new defendants and additional information they can use to sue Liberty Mutual directly for its apparent knowledge of silica-related injuries, the insurer claims in a motion to quash the subpoena filed recently in Massachusetts. Craft, et al. v. American Optical Corp., No. 03-3257 (Mass. Super. Ct., Suffolk Cty.).

According to a series of motions filed in the Suffolk County Superior Court, the Mississippi plaintiffs are abusing their authority to subpoena testimony from Liberty Mutual in a case …