California Counsel to Decide Whether Silica Case Meets Complex Litigation Criteria

SAN FRANCISCO - Parties in a California silica complaint have been given time to confer and determine whether the case will continue through the court as complex litigation or a single assignment case. Arbuckle, et al. v. Abrasives, Inc., et al., No. 03-427580 (Calif. Super. Ct., San Francisco Cty.).

The directive was given to counsel on March 25, after a hearing on an ex parte request for assignment of the 100-plaintiff silica case to San Francisco Superior Court's complex litigation department.

Plaintiffs filed the complaint Dec. 19, claiming their exposure to and use of products manufactured by more than 100 …