Mich. Court Rejects Objections to Ruling Precluding Plaintiff Expert Testimony in Benzene Case; Trial Postponed

DETROIT –– A Michigan federal court has rejected objections to a magistrate judge’s decision precluding plaintiff expert testimony in a benzene case, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to offer substantiated arguments as to why the judge’s ruling was erroneous.

The April 15 order from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan upheld the magistrate judge’s decision to bar testimony from Nachman Brautbar, M.D., and portions of testimony from Melvyn Kopstein, Ph.D.

Both experts offered testimony in a lawsuit filed on behalf of Howard G. Hendrian, who was allegedly exposed to benzene-containing products while employed at Ford …