Defendants Say Plaintiffs Improperly Joined in La. Cases

NEW ORLEANS -- Defendants in four welding fume cases have filed briefs in the Louisiana Supreme Court, contending that the joinder of several plaintiffs in each respective action would result in "manifest injustice." Bayles v. A.O. Smith Corp., et al., No. 07-CC-0534; Addison, et al. v. A.O. Smith Corp., et al., No. 07-CC-0533; Andre, et al. v. A.O. Smith, Barras, et al. v. A.O. Smith, et al., No. 07-CC-0535 (La. Sup. Ct.).

In three separate May 9 briefs filed in support of applications for writ of supervisory review, the defendants argue that because the plaintiffs assert different types of exposure …