Appeals Court Says It Won't Resolve Silica Consolidation Dispute

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A Texas appeals court has refused efforts to force two state court judges to comply with an order that consolidated nearly a dozen silica cases outside of their jurisdiction. In Re: Amfels, Inc., and U.S. Silica Company, No. 10-04-064-CV; In Re: Badger Mining Corporation, No. 13-04-068-CV (Texas App. Ct., Thirteenth Dist.).

In decisions issued March 16, the Thirteenth District Texas Court of Appeals denied mandamus petitions filed by three defendants named in the Cameron County District Court cases, determining that the dispute over the validity of post-consolidation orders issued by the two judges should be submitted …