MDL Severance Order 'Persuasive Authority' Over Georgia Claims, Defendants Claim

ATLANTA -- Plaintiffs in several Georgia welding rod lawsuits ignored relevant authority and attempted to 'turn Georgia law on its head' in opposing a motion made by defendants to sever and dismiss their personal injury claims, according to defendants in a reply to the plaintiffs' opposition to the motion. Gaither, et al. v. Lincoln Electric, et al., No. 2003VS02830G (Ga. State Ct., Fulton Cty.).

In the June 18 reply filed in the Georgia State Court for Fulton County, the defendants urge the court to recognize a severance order issued by the judge overseeing the welding rod products liability MDL, in …