Court Rules in Favor of Defendant after Bench Trial Involving Alleged Gas Spill

HATO REY, Puerto Rico -- A Puerto Rico federal court has found for a defendant at the end of a bench trial, finding that the plaintiffs had failed to prove that a leak from a gasoline storage tank even occurred. Sanchez, et al. v. Esso Standard Oil De Puerto Rico, Inc., No. 08-02151 (D. Puerto Rico).

In the Sept. 29 order and opinion, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, also awarded the defendant with costs associated with litigating the claims and attorneys' fees, ruling that the plaintiffs' counsel had brought a frivolous claim and "multiplied proceedings …