Texas Supreme Court Panel Grants Motion to Create Silica MDL

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Supreme Court has granted a motion by several defendants to transfer and consolidate nearly 75 silica lawsuits filed in the state after Sept. 1, 2003. In Re: Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. 04-0606 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

In a decision issued Nov. 10, the high court's Multidistrict Litigation Panel said consolidating the cases before one pretrial judge under Texas's recently enacted Rule 13 would promote the convenience of the parties and the witnesses involved in the silica cases.

'We think it is undeniable that it is more convenient for witnesses and parties who find themselves involved …