Half of Philly Silica Claims Dismissed; Parties Brief Deceased Claimant Issue

PHILADELPHIA - The nearly 100 silica-related personal injury claims that were pending in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court have been whittled by about one half because of recent rulings on motions to dismiss the claims. In Re: Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. PCCP-March Term, 2003, No. 0001 (Pa. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

According to sources and orders issued by judges Norman Ackerman and Mark Bernstein, the total number of silica cases pending in the court's consolidated mass tort docket is now 54, down from about 97 cases earlier this year.

The reduction in the number of cases came after a series …