Defendants Reject Sanction Alternatives to Dismissal of Pa. Silica Claims

PHILADELPHIA - Defendants in the Philadelphia silica litigation have rejected both proposals submitted by plaintiffs as alternatives to outright dismissal of their cases for basing the claims on X-rays conducted in contravention of state law. In Re: Silica, PCCP March Term 2003, No. 0001 (Pa. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

In a letter filed March 24 in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, the defendants contend that the proposals are not sanctions, but rather a reward to plaintiffs' counsel for their allegedly unlawful conduct. They urge the court to reject the alternatives and proceed to consideration of a previously filed motion for summary …