Benzene Plaintiffs Back Pa. Judge’s Sanction Ruling Regarding Good-Faith Participation in Mediation Process

PITTSBURGH –– Benzene plaintiffs with claims pending in Pennsylvania have filed a brief supporting a recent judge’s decision to sanction Safety-Kleen Corp. for its alleged failure to participate in the mediation process in good faith, saying the order was “entirely consistent” with rules of civil procedure.

In a June 30 brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the plaintiffs opposed Safety-Kleen’s recent objection to the magistrate judge’s order, maintaining that the defendant “deliberately disregarded several opportunities to communicate with Plaintiffs’ Counsel … to inform them that they were unwilling or even unprepared to participate …