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• The judge planned to take up the potentially terminating sanctions at the next hearing, which he has yet to schedule.
• The judge, who is overseeing 3,000 of the lead poisoning cases against Doe Run, called the defense’s attempt to obtain information through two related Florida legal actions ‘tantamount to a vexatious multiplication of litigation.’

Cazador Shkolnik, of Napoli Shkolnik in San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, told Law.com that Sippel’s order was a long time coming.

“He’s been even-tempered, and we thought he should have punished them with that type of terminating sanctions two years ago, but he’s been gentle, and giving them the ability to do the right thing, but they keep doubling down,” Shkolnik said of Sippel. “He’s at the end of his rope now.”

‘An Extraordinary Request’

The Napoli Shkolnik case, brought on behalf of more than 3,000 children, is one of two lawsuits alleging that Doe Run’s mining operations in Peru caused children living near the site to get lead poisoning. Shkolnik’s case also involves plaintiffs’ lawyer law firm in Coral Gables, Florida.

“It is so highly toxic that when you’re in the mining town there, it looks like there are snowcaps, but they aren’t; it’s bleached white from acid rain,” Shkolnik said. “So, we filed suit, and it’s been scorched earth ever since. They’ve done everything and anything to stop this case.”

The full article can be found aquí.