Welding Fume MDL Judge Denies Mistrial Motion Prior to Verdict

CLEVELAND -- The judge presiding over the Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation MDL trial denied a defense motion for a mistrial shortly before jurors awarded $20.5 million to the plaintiffs, according to court documents. Tamraz, et al. v. Lincoln Electric, et al., No. 04-18948; In re: Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1535 (N.D. Ohio.).

On Dec. 4, Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio rejected defense allegations of improper ex parte contacts with jurors, finding that the court followed the standard procedure for communicating with the jury, thus precluding a …