Benzene Exposure Case Remanded to N.J. State Court

TRENTON, N.J. - A New Jersey federal judge has remanded a benzene exposure action to state court, ruling that although it is related to the plaintiffs' pending federal bankruptcy proceeding, they still have an interest in the outcome because the worth of this action far exceeds the debt owed in the bankruptcy estate. Taylor, et ux. v. The Sherwin Williams Co., et al., No. 11-3413 (D. N.J.).

On March 29, Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey explained that under federal bankruptcy law, debtors have standing to object to claims where disallowance …