Respirator Defendants Want Individual Trials for 13-Plaintiff Foundry Case

OSHKOSH, Wis. - Defendants in a Wisconsin silica case are urging a judge to abandon any thought of consolidating for trial the claims of the 13 foundry workers who brought the case against several respiratory defendants. Allen, et al. v. W.O.S. Inc., et al., No. 05-1237 (Wis. Cir. Ct., Winnebago Cty.).

In a joint brief supporting single plaintiff trials for all plaintiffs, the defendants maintain that grouping the claims would likely cause jury confusion and significantly prejudice the defendants, who include manufacturers and suppliers of nearly 18 different respiratory protection devices.

The defendants contend that although the case is in …