MDL Defendants Say Illinois Case Discovery Not Relevant to MDL

CLEVELAND - The Welding Fume MDL defendants are opposing a plaintiffs' motion to prohibit defendants from seeking any screening-related discovery in state court cases, arguing that although federal-state coordination has been encouraged, it is ultimately the state court that must decide whether to allow defendants to seek specific discovery. In re: Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation. MDL No. 1535. Case No. 1:03-cv-17000 (N.D. Ohio); Hlousek v. Airco/The BOC Group. No. 04-L-11031 (Ill. Cir. Ct., Cook Cty.).

The MDL defendants filed their motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on March 22, opposing the plaintiffs' motion …