May 01, 2012
An Ohio federal judge on Friday established a distribution mechanism for a $21.5 million resolution agreement in a sprawling multidistrict litigation over allegedly hazardous welding fumes, announcing that the money will be allocated by an independent claims administrator.
April 03, 2009
A federal judge has denied three welding rod manufacturers' bid for post-trial judgment in a suit that is part of multidistrict welding fume litigation and ordered the companies to either pay $2 million in attorneys' fees for the plaintiffs or convince the court that the fees are unreasonable.
December 08, 2008
After more than four years, the tolling agreement in multidistrict litigation over welding fumes has been terminated by the defendants, requiring roughly 12,000 participants to formally file complaints in the action if they want to pursue claims.
November 07, 2008
The plaintiffs in the multidistrict welding fume trials have decided to take a different tack, opting to revise their complaints to pursue product liability claims on an individual basis, rather than classwide.
February 21, 2008
A judge has refused to reconsider her order calling for the full disclosure of compensation paid to authors of medical studies cited by expert witnesses in the bellwether multidistrict welding fume trials.
February 07, 2008
Denied class certification, 16 welders seeking a medical monitoring program for an allegedly increased risk of developing brain damage have agreed to dismiss themselves from the multidistrict welding fume litigation.
January 08, 2008
A judge has picked a case brought by a welder who allegedly developed manganese-induced Parkinsonism from exposure to toxic fumes caused by the tools of his trade as the next bellwether trial in the multidistrict welding fume litigation.
December 06, 2007
A federal jury awarded a couple $20.5 million Wednesday after finding that a number of companies failed to warn the husband that exposure to the fumes of their welding products could cause neurological injury.
October 31, 2007
A judge has thrown out all cases against heavy-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. in the multidistrict welding fume litigation, saying there is insufficient evidence to conclude it conspired with the other defendants to hurt the plaintiffs.
October 29, 2007
A federal judge has dismissed about 75 cases in the multidistrict welding fume litigation, adding to the pile of suits that have been discarded in the past year.