Judge Addresses Screening Motion, Will Designate Cases for Discovery Work-Up

CLEVELAND -- The judge overseeing the Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation MDL indicated her intent to designate an additional 100 cases to be worked up for discovery, which she says will satisfy a defense request for immediate medical records discovery in cases involving screening diagnoses. In re: Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1535 (N.D. Ohio).

In a Jan. 7 case management order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Judge Kathleen M. O'Malley said that if the defendants are correct in their assertion that 90 percent of the pending cases involve screening diagnoses, …