Okla. Silica Defendant Asking Judge to Consider Recent Miss. Joinder Rulings

PRYOR, Okla. - A defendant in a 138-plaintiff Oklahoma silica claim has filed a supplemental brief in support of its motion to sever the case, pointing the court's attention to recent case law out of Mississippi that has rejected the joinder of claims in similar cases. Akins, et al. v. Airgas Safety, et al., No. CJ-2003-443 (Okla. Dist. Ct., Mayes Cty.).

In a motion filed March 4, U.S. Silica Co. urges Mayes County District Court Judge James D. Goodpaster to sever the instant plaintiffs' silicosis claims because each plaintiff's exposure to silica occurred under highly individualized circumstances.

Judge Goodpaster has …