N.Y. Court Dismisses Claims Against 2 Benzene Defendants on Causation, Product ID Grounds

NEW YORK –– A New York court overseeing a benzene case has dismissed defendants Sears, Roebuck & Co., and Island Transportation Corp., finding the plaintiffs failed to prove that a former mechanic was exposed to benzene in their products.

In the July 18 order, the New York Supreme Court for New York County also dismissed fraud claims asserted against U.S. Steel Corp. and Safety-Kleen Systems Inc. A request for punitive damages asserted against Safety-Kleen was also dismissed, but the court denied the two defendants’ attempts to have the complaint dismissed in its entirety.

The plaintiffs contend that John J. …