Court Says Timing of Hood Use Justifies Jurisdiction Over Pulmosan

HOUSTON - A sandblaster who alleged that he was exposed to silica in Louisiana while wearing a hood manufactured by Pulmosan Safety Equipment Corp. can pursue a personal injury case in Texas, despite the company's claim that its contacts with the state are too remote to establish jurisdiction. Moore v. Air Liquide America Corp., No. 2005-58856 (Texas Dist. Ct., Harris Cty.).

Judge Tracy Christopher ruled July 13 that there are facts alleged against Pulmosan in the underlying complaint that sufficiently link the hood used by the plaintiff with the defendant's activities in Texas at the time the exposure occurred.

Although …