Pa. Court Upholds Judgment for Exxon Mobil, Says Defendant Didn’t Control Tanks Leaking Benzene-Containing Gasoline

HARRISBURG, Pa. –– A Pennsylvania appellate court has upheld an award of summary judgment to Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) in an underground storage tank benzene exposure case, agreeing with the trial court that the defendant had no control over the gas station that allegedly caused the leak.

In the July 10 opinion, the Pennsylvania Superior Court also held that the plaintiffs were not forced into a settlement agreement with other defendants named in two separate lawsuits.

The Tarantino family, including Franklin and Margaret and their son, Franklin J.A. Tarantino, filed the lawsuit. In it, the Tarantinos argue that defendants Texaco …