State Supreme Court Requests Briefing in Challenges to Texas Silica Consolidation

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Supreme Court has requested briefing after staying nearly a dozen consolidated state silica cases that are the subject of a conflict between three judges who claim to have jurisdiction over the cases. In Re U.S. Silica Company and Amfels, Inc., No. 04-0270; In Re: Badger Mining Corporation, No. 04-0271; In Re Norton Company, et al., No. 04-0297; In Re Norton Company, Siebe North, Inc., and Textron, Inc., No. 04-0308; In Re Bacou-Dalloz Safety, Inc., No. 04-0309 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

According to sources, the request was made May 3 in a pending mandamus action filed by …