Prior Settlement Relieves Air Liquide of Pending Obligations in Silica Suits

PHILADELPHIA - Air Liquide America and its predecessor, Sanstorm Inc., are not obligated to defend claims asserted in nearly 50 silica lawsuits filed in Pennsylvania, a judge has ruled after co-defendants joined the two companies without knowledge that they had settled the claims nearly two years earlier. In Re: Silica Products Liability Litigation, March Term 2003, No. 00001 (Pa. Comm. Pls., Philadelphia Cty.).

According to a Feb. 7 order, Air Liquide and Sanstorm are no longer required to participate in the litigation or answer the amended joinder complaints that named the companies as defendants in Philadelphia cases in December 2004. …