Court Dismisses Benzene Action, Cites Plaintiffs' Failure to Obtain New Counsel

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A Kentucky federal court has dismissed a benzene complaint without prejudice after the plaintiffs -- whose counsel cited "irreconcilable differences" when seeking a withdrawal from the case -- failed to obtain new counsel. Watkins, et al. v. Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., et al., No. 08-224 (E.D. Ky.).

In an order entered Dec. 21, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky struck the case from the court's active docket and set aside pretrial conferences scheduled for 2010.

The underlying claims were asserted on behalf of Gary Watkins, who allegedly developed brain damage after exposure to …