Louisiana Appellate Court Upholds Majority of $17.5 Million Benzene Verdict

LAKE CHARLES, La. –– A Louisiana appellate court has upheld the majority of a $17.5 million benzene verdict, again rejecting defense arguments that the trial court erred when it imposed discovery sanctions on Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Texaco and Union Oil Company of California which precluded them from presenting defenses at trial.

In the April 3 opinion, the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal did alter the monetary award in part, reducing the damages by nearly $250,000 and finding that the plaintiffs could not recover prejudgment interest on future damages.

In the lawsuit, Monte McWilliams contends that he developed acute promyelocytic …