Post-Motion Addition of Resident Sand Supplier Thwarts Transfer Effort

OAKLAND, Calif. - A California judge has denied a defendant's attempt to have a silica case transferred to a neighboring county, determining that the plaintiff's addition of a resident defendant after the venue motion was filed should not be considered a bad faith amendment designed to avoid transfer. Casasus v. A-1 Aggregates, et al., No. RG05214053 (Calif. Super. Ct. Alameda Cty.).

In an April 6 order, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman rejected Chevron U.S.A. Inc.'s argument that Jose Cesena Casasus substituted Hanson Aggregates Mid-Pacific Inc. (Hanson Aggregates) solely to have the case tried in Alameda County. Judge Freedman …