3M Takes Fight Over Discovery Orders to Texas High Court

AUSTIN, Texas - Unsuccessful at the appellate court level, 3M has taken its fight to the state Supreme Court over what it says are unconstitutional provisions in a series of discovery orders entered in the state silica MDL. In Re 3M Company, No. 07-00260 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

In a petition for writ of mandamus filed Dec. 7 in Texas' highest court, the respiratory protection device manufacturer says that the MDL court's approval of provisions in pretrial orders dealing with the disclosure of available insurance coverage and potentially sensitive internal documents was an abuse of discretion.

"While 3M recognizes and appreciates …