Court Refuses Bid to Overturn Interstate Forum Ruling in Silica Case

MT. VERNON, Ill. - An appellate court has denied a petition for leave to appeal a trial court's recent forum non conveniens ruling that transferred an Illinois silica case to Wisconsin, where the plaintiff's alleged silica exposure occurred. Dille v. American Optical Corp., et al., No. 5-05-0548 (Ill. App. Ct., 5th Dist.).

In an order entered Nov. 4, the Fifth District Appellate Court of Illinois denied Gary Dille's petition to appeal the Madison County Circuit Court ruling, despite Dille's claim that in reaching the decision, the state trial court applied the wrong forum standard.

Dille filed his complaint in Madison …