Defendants Fight Plaintiffs' Effort to Prioritize Wrongful Death Silica Claims

OAKLAND, Calif. - Defendants in the California silica litigation have objected to the designation by plaintiffs of five new pilot cases, arguing that the group should not include wrongful death claims because they aren't "ordinary" silica claims and won't further the goal of providing a basis for evaluating the remaining cases. Bradley v. A-1 Aggregates, et al., No. RG05214038 (Calif. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty.).

In a case management statement filed Sept. 8 in Alameda County Superior Court, the defendants contend that in place of the wrongful death cases, the complaints of the oldest living plaintiffs should be given preference because …