Federal Court Says Benzene Claims Barred by Workers' Compensation Law

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri federal court has granted a motion to dismiss made by Harley-Davidson in a benzene case, ruling that the state's workers' compensation law barred the claims. Idekr v. PPG Industries, Inc., et al., No. 10-0449 (W.D. Mo.).

In the Jan. 18 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri opined that the plaintiff's claim that defendant Harley-Davidson Company Operations Inc. is responsible for her exposure to chemicals is one that is covered by Missouri's Workers' Compensation Law.

Michelle K. Idekr filed the lawsuit, contending that during her employment in the paint and …