DJ Judicial Order:Welding Fumes Cause Neurological Damage
2006-03-01

4044 DJ 28-Feb-06 at 13:22:00 14:20 Symbol: CAT GE LECO Industry: FAC IDD TRQ XDJGI XDJI XFFX XGTI XNYA XSCI XSP5 Subject: DJEN DJIN DJN DJRT DJWR WSJC BNEU CNW DJFX DJWI FCTV GEN HLT LWS SNPR WEI Market Sector: IDU NND Geographic Region: CT IL NME OH US USC USE Product/Service: CMR DJCB EWR RTRS A group representing professional welders said a Cleveland judge issued a written ruling saying that scientific evidence shows that welding fumes containing manganese can cause serious neurological damage to welders. The Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the national welding fume litigation, which includes an estimated 4,000-6,000 cases, described the ruling as a "major victory" in a legal battle being waged against Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (LECO), General Electric Co. (GE), Westinghouse, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and other manufacturers of welding rods and equipment. "The evidence so far presented is sufficiently reliable to support the assertion that exposure to low-manganese welding fumes can cause, contribute to, or accelerate a movement disorder, including a parkinsonian syndrome that some doctors will diagnose as PD," the order, written by Judge Kathleen O'Malley, said. O'Malley ruled last year that scientific evidence supports the conclusion that welding fumes cause Parkinson's disease. O'Malley also ruled that health warnings given by two welding-equipment manufacturers, Hobart Brothers Co. and ESAB, could be found by a jury to be "grossly inadequate and possibly even misleading." Attorney John Beisner, who has defended corporations in multiple welding-fume cases, including this one, had claimed that there weren't scientifically sound studies that showed mild steel welding causes Parkinson's disease or any other Parkinson's-like movement disorder. Representatives for Lincoln Electric, General Electric, Westinghouse, Caterpillar, ESAB, and Hobart Brothers couldn't be reached. A spokeswoman for Beisner said she was reviewing the order so she could comment. -Jonathan Vuocolo; 201-938-5400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com Order free Annual Report for General Electric Co. Visit http://djnewswires.ar.wilink.com/?link=GE or call 1-888-301-0513 (END) Dow Jones Newswires