In Re Allied Chemical Corporation, Relator

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court granted mandamus relief, vacating the trial court's order setting any plaintiffs' claims for trial until defendants have a reasonable opportunity to prepare after plaintiffs identify causation experts, and held that the trial court abused its discretion by scheduling trial without adequate discovery. The Court affirmed the need for timely discovery in mass tort cases and rejected the defendants' claim of mootness. Separate dissenting and concurring opinions argued the writ was inappropriate or cautioned against creating new procedural rules.