La. Appellate Court Affirms Benefits, Rejects Challenges to Plaintiff Experts

LAKE CHARLES, La. -- A Louisiana appellate court has affirmed an award of benefits to the widow of a former refinery worker who was allegedly exposed to benzene while cleaning equipment coated with chemicals. Benoit v. Turner Industries Group LLC, No. 10-1460 (La. Ct. App., 3rd Cir.).

In the May 4 opinion, the Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal said that challenges to the plaintiff's expert testimony were ungrounded, as the expert's opinions were "not based on conjecture and speculation, but rather on years of ... experience and known factual data."

Marlene Benoit asserted the claims on behalf of her …