Ohio Court: Recent Government Report Doesn't Warrant Reversal of Protective Order

CLEVELAND -- An Ohio federal court has refused to revisit a protective order issued in favor of Chevron, saying that a recent report actually supports the defendant's position that a plume released from one of the defendant's refineries did not pose a danger. Baker, et al. v. Chevron USA Inc., et al., No. 05-227 (S.D. Ohio).

In the April 19 ruling denying a plaintiff motion to reconsider, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio said that the plaintiffs' "mistrust of Chevron is insufficient to re-open discovery on [the contested issue]."

The plaintiffs are residents of Ohio who …