Illinois Federal Court Allows Roxana Benzene Contamination Claims to Proceed Against Shell

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. –– The Illinois federal court overseeing the benzene-related litigation filed by the Village of Roxana against Shell Oil Co., has denied defense efforts to dismiss the claims, finding in part that the public health and safety concerns weighed in favor of the town.

In the Aug. 26 order, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois rejected Shell’s attempts to dismiss the claims on preemption and statute of limitations grounds.

The Village of Roxana started the instant case by filing 230 separate state court lawsuits. In each case, the Village argued that a petroleum …