Ga. Court Tells 340 Welding Plaintiffs to Re-File in Separate Actions

ATLANTA - A Georgia state court judge on July 7 granted a defense motion to implement a recent appellate ruling on joinder and ordered 340 welding fume plaintiffs dropped from the 10 cases in which they were named. (Gaither, et al. v. Lincoln Electric Co., et al., No. 03 VS 052830 (Ga. State Court, Fulton Cty.).

Judge John R. Mather said his decision was without prejudice and the dismissed plaintiffs may re-file in accordance with Georgia law on renewal actions.

The ruling affects plaintiffs other than the first-named plaintiff in these cases: Gaither v. Lincoln Electric; Burnette, et al. v. …