Mass Settlement halts welding fume lawsuits.
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Press Release Summary:
According to Welding and Gases Today Online, steering committees for parties in Welding Fume MDL have reached global settlement resolving nearly all welding fume cases pending in state or federal courts. In exchange for dismissing their lawsuits and releasing all manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of welding fume products from liability, participating plaintiffs will be eligible to receive payments from settlement pool being funded by welding rod manufacturers.
Original Press Release:
Mass Settlement Halts Welding Fume Lawsuits
Welding & Gases Today reports global settlement to resolve 95 percent of welding fume cases.
Dewitt, NY - The June 2012 announcement of a global settlement involving welding fume cases may end welding fume litigation as a mass tort. Welding & Gases Today Online, the online home of the leading magazine for the gases and welding equipment industry, reports that the steering committees for the parties in the Welding Fume MDL have reached a global settlement resolving nearly all welding fume cases pending in state or federal courts.
In exchange for dismissing their lawsuits and releasing all manufacturers, distributors and sellers of welding fume products from liability, participating plaintiffs will be eligible to receive payments from a settlement pool being funded by welding rod manufacturers. GAWDA's Welding Fume Liability Consultant Michael Degan calls the news a substantial victory for the welding industry. He says that the settlement will result in the dismissal and release of distributors of welding products, even though it is being funded entirely by the manufacturers.
GAWDA Media, through Welding & Gases Today and the GAWDA Connection e-newsletter, continues to follow the welding fume litigation story closely. GAWDA members can view the latest updates on the Welding & Gases Today website at www.WeldingAndGasesToday.org
Welding fume lawsuits have plagued the welding industry since Larry Elam's million-dollar verdict in 2003. Throughout this time, GAWDA Welding Fume Liability Consultant Michael Degan has been advising welding industry members and helping manufacturers and distributors of welding equipment.
As a member benefit, GAWDA provides its members with access to consultants with expertise in an array of regulatory areas. The consultants keep members abreast of issues related to welding fume litigation, DOT, FDA, Medical Gases, EPA, OSHA and other regulations. Among the services they offer, each of the consultants writes a quarterly column in Welding & Gases Today. Degan has been keeping members informed of developments in fume litigation and related insurance recovery issues since 2006.
To learn more about the latest development in welding fume litigation, view the complete story at www.weldingandgasestoday.org/index.php/2012/06/global-settlement-reached-in-welding-fume-litigation/ on Welding & Gases Today Online. For more information, contact Carole Jesiolowski, senior editor at Welding & Gases Today at carole@weldingandgasestoday.org or 315-445-2347.
About GAWDA
Founded in 1945, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (www.weldingandgasestoday.org), e-magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (www.gawdawiki.org), GAWDA connects suppliers of gases and manufacturers of related equipment as well as manufacturers of welding equipment and distribution leaders, for the purpose of safely delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. GAWDA publications are the industry's voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning welding equipment and products and services related to industrial, medical, specialty and cryogenic gases. A 501(c)3 organization, GAWDA members are located throughout North America.
