California Judge Dismisses 9 of 10 Silica Plaintiffs on Misjoinder Issue

SAN FRANSCISCO - A second state court judge in California has dismissed a multi-plaintiff silica suit, after defendants argued that the plaintiffs failed to meet the state's requirements for joining claimants to a single lawsuit. Apisa, et al. v. Abrasives, Inc., et al., No. 04-432414 (Calif. Super. Ct., San Francisco Cty.).

Following a hearing held Sept. 28 in San Francisco County Superior Court, Judge James L. Warren dismissed without prejudice the claims of all but one of ten plaintiffs who sued dozens of defendants for allegedly causing their silica-related injuries.

According to a proposed order filed with the court, …