Iowa Court Denies Motions to Exclude Expert Testimony, Bar Punitive Damages in Benzene Case

DAVENPORT, Iowa –– An Iowa federal court has weighed in on a number of pending motions in a benzene case scheduled for a March trial date, rejecting all challenges to expert testimony, causation and punitive damages, but granting one of the defendant’s motions for summary judgment.

In one of the several Feb. 4 orders, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa awarded summary judgment to Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., finding that the plaintiffs had failed to establish that the defendant exercised control over the dock at which the plaintiff worked.

Plaintiff Cheri Dahlin originally filed suit in Iowa state …