Texas High Court Schedules Argument on Statewide Silica MDL; Parties Exchange Briefs

AUSTIN, Texas - The Supreme Court of Texas will hear arguments next month on whether to create a statewide silica MDL for pre-trial coordination of nearly five dozen pending cases. In Re Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. 04-0606 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

In an order entered Sept. 10, the high court said it will hold a hearing at 9 a.m. Oct. 13 on several defendants' Rule 13 motion to transfer the 58 suits - all of which were filed after Sept. 1, 2003 - to a single judge.

Defendants Gardner Denver, Inc., Eastern Safety Equipment Co., Inc., Parmelee Industries, Inc., Louis …