Defendants File Response in Elam Appeal, Claim Plaintiff Ignored, Distorted Facts

MT. VERNON, Ill. -- The defendants appealing the first plaintiff welding rod verdict have filed a response to the plaintiffs' appeal brief, supporting their arguments that the trial court allowed inadmissible evidence for the plaintiff and barred admissible evidence presented by the defendants. Elam v. Lincoln Electric, et al., No. 5-04-0120 (Ill. App. Ct., 5th Dist.).

The Sept. 23 filing in the Illinois 5th Circuit Appellate Court also claims that the plaintiff's recent argument that warnings on the welding rods were intentionally hidden contradicts testimony given at trial.

Plaintiff Lawrence Elam alleged that his work as a stick welder at …