Louisiana Court Pushes Back Benzene Trial Against Chevron to March 12

NEW ORLEANS -- A Louisiana federal court has pushed back the start date for a benzene trial two weeks to March 12, opining that the short continuance should not prejudice either party. Morin, et al. v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., et al., No. 11-0045 (E.D. La.).

In the Jan. 24 order, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana said that the continuance was "necessitated by the delays in complying with discovery obligations by both plaintiffs and defendants Chevron and the parties' inabilities to complete discovery within the original time frame."

The plaintiffs contend that Bryan Morin was exposed …