MDL Judge Sua Sponte Orders Plaintiffs to Amend Original Jurisdiction Case

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The judge overseeing the silica MDL has ordered plaintiffs in a case originally filed before the court to amend their pleading to show that the case belongs in federal court. Alexander, et al. v. Air Liquide America Corp., et al., No. 03-533 (S.D. Texas).

Judge Janis Graham Jack issued the order sua sponte on May 17, giving plaintiffs five days to amend their complaint and make a complete statement of the basis for federal diversity jurisdiction.

The case, designated a tag-along action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, was filed Dec. …