Defendants Move for Summary Judgment, Challenge Link Between Silica and Lupus

LOS ANGELES - Defendants in a California silica suit have moved for summary judgment asserting numerous arguments including the sophisticated user doctrine, lack of product identification and a failure to provide any epidemiological evidence supporting a link between silica exposure and lupus. Ogan v. 3M Company, et al., No. BC 293705 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

According to motions filed in March in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the defendants insist that plaintiff Darrell Ogan has failed to show that his systemic lupus erythematosous is related to his silica exposure, especially since several doctors have failed to diagnose …