Defendant Seeks Emergency Stay of Mississippi Silica Trial

JACKSON, Miss. - A defendant in a silica case scheduled for trial next month has filed an emergency motion to stay proceedings in the case because the state Supreme Court has not yet issued a ruling on whether a state court judge set to preside over the matter should be recused. In Re: Parmelee Industries, Inc., No. 2003-M-01633 (Miss. Sup. Ct.).

In a motion filed Feb. 3 in Mississippi Supreme Court, Parmelee Industries argues that it has been prejudiced by the high court's failure to respond to its motion to recuse Judge Billy Joe Landrum from hearing 19 separate silica …