Georgia Plaintiffs Claim Defendants Improperly Applied Forum Doctrine

ATLANTA -- Plaintiffs in several pending Georgia welding rod lawsuits have opposed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the defendants' retroactive application of the forum non conveniens doctrine was improper. Burnette, et al., v. Dennis Welding Supply, et al., No. 03VS052788G (Ga. State Ct., Fulton Cty.).

In a response filed June 3 in the Georgia State Court for Fulton County, the plaintiffs claim that the amendment to the Georgia legislature made on July 1, 2003 -- on which the defendants base their argument -- does not apply to the instant cases because the lawsuit was filed on June 30, 2003.