Pennsylvania Judge Dismisses Cases, Sanctions Plaintiffs' Attorneys in Asbestos Lawsuit

PHILADELPHIA - United States Magistrate Judge David Strawbridge has granted the dismissal of lawsuits filed by seven plaintiffs and sanctioned their law firm in the ongoing multidistrict asbestos litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

As part of the dismissals, Judge Strawbridge ordered plaintiffs' attorneys with the Franklin, Cardwell & Jones law firm of Houston to pay more than $34,000 to the Jackson, Mississippi-based firm of Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy LLP.

The payment is based on Forman Perry's cost and fees to establish case discovery protocols for screening records of the plaintiffs' diagnosing physician, Dr. Jay T. Segarra of Gulfport, Mississippi.  Dr. Segarra's practices and methods, including the questionable accuracy of his diagnoses, are the subject of recurring challenges by defense attorneys in MDL 875.

"The court continues to make progress in separating the valid and invalid claims in MDL 875," says attorney Marcy B. Croft of Forman Perry.  "It's clear that opposing counsel recognized that these claims would not withstand scrutiny and not meet the standards of accountability and reliability established by the court."

Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy LLP is a national trial firm focusing on tort, environmental and commercial litigation.  The firm is home to more than 85 attorneys in Jackson, Mississippi, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, and New Orleans who have represented clients in state and federal courts across the United States for more than 20 years.  More information available at www.fpwkt.com.