Louisiana Defendants Move to Dismiss and Stay, Pending Transfer

NEW ORLEANS -- Defendants in pending Louisiana welding rod lawsuits have filed to dismiss the claims, arguing that the plaintiffs failed to state factual allegations concerning any of the individual defendants' conduct. Motty v. A.O. Smith Corporation, et al., No. 04-1562 (E.D. La.); Babin, et al., v. A.O. Smith Corporation, et al., No. 04-01563 (E.D. La.).

In a motion filed June 8, defendants named in two Louisiana welding rod complaints state that the plaintiffs fail to specify the identities of those participating in an alleged conspiracy; the nature of information that was allegedly withheld from the plaintiffs; what fraudulent representations …