Judge Refuses to Allow Discovery of Plaintiffs' Picture Book Notes

PHILADELPHIA - The judge presiding over pretrial matters in the Philadelphia silica litigation has denied an attempt by defendants to seek discovery of notes the plaintiffs or their attorneys may have created after reviewing a picture book used to identify silica-related products that caused their alleged injuries. In Re: Philadelphia Silica Products Liability Litigation, March Term 2003, No.: 0001 (Pa. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

Judge Norman Ackerman of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas denied the motion to compel production of the materials on Oct. 7, following an in camera review of the documents in question.

In August, an emergency …