Louisiana Plaintiffs Refute Challenges to Specificity of Lawsuit

NEW ORLEANS -- Plaintiffs in a Louisiana welding rod lawsuit are opposing a motion made by several defendants to dismiss the complaint for failure to plead fraud with the requisite specificity. Babin, et al. v. A.O. Smith, et al., No. 04-1563 (E.D. La.).

In July 13 opposition filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, plaintiffs argue that the claims asserted do not collapse without the allegation of fraud, as the defendants contended in their motion to dismiss.

'The defendants' portrayal of Plaintiffs' allegations as a house of cards built on a count of fraud …