Louisiana Court Remands Benzene Maritime and Admiralty Claims Asserted by Seaman

LAFAYETTE, La. –– A seaman’s benzene claims have been remanded to Louisiana state court after a federal court found that the admiralty and maritime claims could only be removed when complete diversity of citizenship existed.

In the June 6 decision, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana remanded the case, concluding that the plaintiff’s general maritime claims were not removable, despite recent amendments to the U.S. law governing jurisdiction.

Plaintiff James Gabriles asserted the claims, contending that he had been exposed to benzene-containing products while employed as a seaman for more than 40 years. Gabriles brought …