Court: Joinder of Chevron Not Frivolous, Motion to Remand Granted

LOS ANGELES -- A federal court has remanded a California couple's benzene lawsuit, concluding that there was no evidence that the plaintiffs' joinder of Chevron USA Inc. to the lawsuit was done purely to destroy diversity jurisdiction. Van Dyke, et al. v. Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., et al., No. 09-02689 (C.D. Calif.).

In the July 28 order, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California further found that the plaintiffs' amendment of the complaint to add Chevron was within the required time period and did not prejudice the defendants.

The claims were filed by Gregory and Kathleen Van …