Defendants in Joinder Dispute Seek Relief from La. High Court

NEW ORLEANS -- Defendants involved in the Louisiana state court welding fume litigation have filed a petition in the state's high court seeking relief from multi-plaintiff lawsuits, contending the cases are an improper cumulation of actions, sources told HarrisMartin. In re: A.O. Smith, et al., No. 2007-CC-534, 2007-CC-535, 2007-CC-536 (La. Sup. Ct.).

The Louisiana Supreme Court clerk's office told HarrisMartin that three applications for writs were entered into the docket on March 13.

The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied similar applications for writs on two separate occasions, denying one of the applications on November 16, 2006, and denying …