NEMA Answers MDL Complaint and Asserts Affirmative Defenses

CLEVELAND - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association has filed its answer in the Welding Rods Product Liability Litigation, denying plaintiffs' conspiracy allegations and raising 17 affirmative defenses. In re: Welding Rod Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:03-CV-17000 [MDL Docket No. 1535] (N.D. Ohio).

NEMA's 31-page answer was filed on Jan. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Many of the association's answers consisted of denials that it had knowledge or information of MDL plaintiffs' claims.

Affirmative defenses included improper venue, lack of personal jurisdiction, statutes of limitations, laches and/or estoppel and/or waiver; preemption; failure to mitigate …