Defendants Urge Sanctions for 'Egregious Waste' of Expense at Depositions

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Defendants in a silica case that remains pending in MDL 1553 have moved for sanctions against plaintiffs counsel for their failure to dismiss defendants prior to plaintiff depositions. McManus, et al. v. Dependable Abrasives, et al., No. 05-121 (S.D. Texas).

According to the motion, which was filed Nov. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the plaintiffs' failure to cull defendants against whom it was determined there is no cause of action has cost defendants significant expense by forcing them to unnecessarily appear at the depositions.

The defendants contend that the …