Louisiana Parties Continue to Battle Over Validity of TSCA Claims

NEW ORLEANS -- Parties in a Louisiana benzene case continue to battle over whether the plaintiffs have sufficiently pled their claims, with the defendants contending that they have not complied with Toxic Substance Control Act provisions. Bunch, et al. v. Shell Oil Co., et al., No. 10-01226 (E.D. La.).

The plaintiffs back their complaint in an opposition filed Aug. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, contending that there is no statute that says they cannot amend their complaint to add claims under the TSCA.

"[I]n fact, Rule 18 supports joining all claims against a …