5th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Benzene Bladder Cancer Claims

NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has upheld an award of summary judgment to a benzene defendant, ruling that the expert testimony used to support the plaintiff's claims did not "come close" to establishing either general or specific causation. Seaman v. Seacor Marine LLC, No. 08-30911 (5th Circuit.).

The 5th Circuit in its April 30 ruling also rejected efforts by the plaintiff to argue that the defendant's own expert had established causation.

The underlying claims were brought by Larry Seaman, who alleged that his bladder cancer was caused by exposure to benzene and other …