La. Court Dismisses Benzene-Related Cross-Claims Filed by Barge Operator

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A Louisiana federal court has dismissed cross-claims asserted by the operator of a barge on which the underlying benzene claimant worked, ruling that the operator failed to present evidence that the claimant's employer was working under its direction at the time of the alleged exposure. Shepherd v. Exxon Mobil Corp., No. 06-509 (M.D. La.).

In the July 7 ruling, however, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana also refused to grant a separate motion filed by the employer for judgment of dismissal, noting that new claims against the employer have emerged.

The …