Additional Defendants File Oppositions to Proposed Texas Silica MDL

AUSTIN, Texas - Two more defendants have joined in opposition to the creation of a multidistrict proceeding for Texas state court silica cases, arguing that the co-defendants who favor the MDL have an 'alarmist's' view of the state's silica docket. In Re: Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. 04-0606 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

The oppositions were filed Oct. 8 by defendants Hanson Aggregates Inc. and Mine Safety Appliances Co. in anticipation of an Oct. 13 hearing in the Texas Supreme Court, where the high court will entertain argument over a motion to transfer and consolidate post-Sept. 1, 2003 silica cases to a …