JPML Denies Petition to Rehear Texas MDL Preemption Ruling

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas state Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has dismissed a petition to rehear argument in a Jones Act case remanded by the state's silica MDL judge after she determined that the requirements of the act preempted those set forth under Texas' new silica medical criteria law. In Re: Silica Products Liability Litigation, No. 04-0606 (Texas JPML).

In a decision issued June 19, the panel held that it did not have jurisdiction over the dispute, which arose after Harris County District Court Judge Tracy Christopher remanded a Jones Act silica claim brought by John Lopez against GlobalSantaFe …