Texas State MDL Judge Enters First Three Orders in Pretrial Docket

HOUSTON - The first three orders since the Texas Supreme Court granted a motion to create a statewide silica MDL have been entered in Harris County District Court. In Re: Texas State Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. 2004-7000 (Texas Dist. Ct., Harris Cty.).

The orders, all issued in January by Judge Tracy Christopher, establish the single pre-trial docket for all silica cases filed after Sept. 30, 2003, name defense and plaintiffs' liaison counsel and set guidelines for perpetuation of plaintiffs' testimony.

According to the orders, approximately 89 cases had been transferred to the consolidated Harris County docket as of Dec. …