Plaintiffs Question Texas MDL Court's Jurisdiction over Older Claims

HOUSTON - Plaintiffs in the Texas Silica MDL have filed a brief requesting that the judge presiding over the docket determine whether her court has subject matter jurisdiction in cases that were filed prior to Sept. 1, 2003. In Re: Texas State Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. 2004-70000 (Texas Dist. Ct., Harris Cty.).

According to the Dec. 2 request, Judge Tracy Christopher of the Harris County District Court may not have jurisdiction over the pre-Sept. 1, 2003, claims that are now being transferred by defendants to her court because the state Supreme Court's order creating the MDL has yet to …