Defendant Says Illinois Silica Case Belongs in Venue 100 Miles from Madison County

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - A defendant named in a Madison County, Illinois, silica suit has moved to transfer the case to a different location after evidence presented during discovery showed that the plaintiff's claims have virtually no connection to jurisdiction where it is currently pending. Edwards v. 3M Company, et al., No. 03 L 1888 (Ill. Cir. Ct., Madison Cty.).

In a motion filed Nov. 30 in Madison County Circuit Court, defendant U.S. Silica argues that there exists no public or private interests that weigh in favor of keeping Richard Edwards' silica lawsuit in Madison County. Rather, U.S. Silica argues, the …