An initiatial hearing into a legal challenge to Missouri’s 2005 workers’ compensation law has been held, with Cole County Circuit Judge Byron Kinder indicating he is not about to strike the statute based on what he has heard. Plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffrey White, representing several unions and other interested parties, says that while the judge has indicated an unwillingness to toss out the law, the judge has agreed to hear more testimony next month once lawyers for the sides have agreed on what they accept and what they reject. Attorney Marc Ellinger, with Associated Industries of Missouri, is working with the Attorney General’s Office to defend the law. He feels good about how the first day of the hearing went and looks forward to the next hearing. The sides have been told to return to court on June 13th when more testimony will be heard.