Kentucky Court Awards Summary Judgment to All Defendants in Benzene Case

SMITHLAND, Ky. -- A Kentucky state court has granted summary judgment to 16 benzene defendants on product identification grounds, ruling that the plaintiff had not demonstrated that the decedent was present at work sites at the same time as the defendants' products. Fryer, et al. v. Apex Oil Co., et al., No. 06-CI-00170 (Ky. Cir. Ct., Livingston Cty.).

In separately filed orders entered Jan. 4, the Kentucky Circuit Court for Livingston County awarded summary judgment to the remaining defendants in the case, including Valero, Shell Oil Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., Marathon Oil Co., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Ashland Inc., BP Products …