Judge Strikes Punitive Damages Claim from California Silica Suit

LOS ANGELES - A state court judge in California has granted a defense motion to strike a punitive damages claim from a case filed by a former sandblaster who underwent a double-lung transplant to treat injuries related to his silicosis. Mahar v. 3M Company, et al., No. BC328229 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

The defense motion, filed by Dalloz Safety, was granted June 22 by Judge Haley J. Fromholz of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Judge Fromholz gave plaintiff Rick Mahar 10 days from the date of the order to amend his complaint, which Mahar did on July 8.