W.Va. Defendants Withdraw Motion to Refer Claims to Mass Litigation Panel

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Defendants in nearly a dozen West Virginia welding rod lawsuits have withdrawn a motion to refer the pending manganese litigation to a mass litigation panel one day before a hearing was set to argue the matter. Skiles, et al., v. Lincoln Electric, et al., No. 03-C-2299 (W.Va. Cir. Ct., Kanawha Cty.).

According to sources, the scheduled July 2 hearing before Arthur M. Recht of the West Virginia Circuit Court of Ohio County was cancelled after the defendants withdrew their motion, leaving the lawsuits consolidated in the Kanawha County Circuit Court.

The hearing was scheduled after Acting Chief …