Plaintiffs Rest in MDL Trial; Closing Statements Expected By End of Nov.

CLEVELAND -- Trial began Oct. 30 in two cases brought by former Duke Power Co. employees who claim their various ailments were caused by exposure to welding fumes, sources told HarrisMartin. In re: Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1535 (N.D. Ohio).

Sources indicated that as of Nov. 15, the plaintiffs had rested their case and defendants were expected to present testimony for approximately two weeks. Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is presiding over the trial.

Judge O'Malley had recently selected the two Duke Power Cases to proceed …