La. Federal Judge Dismisses Benzene Exposure Action in Light of Parties’ Settlement

NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans federal judge has dismissed without prejudice a benzene exposure lawsuit asserted against a number of defendants, including Murphy Exploration and Product Company USA, on grounds that the parties have arrived at a compromise.

In a Sept. 30 order, Judge Carl J. Barbier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana dismissed the claims without prejudice, noting that any party may seek to enforce the compromise within 60 days if it is not consummated by that time.

The plaintiffs brought the claims on behalf of Franklin Ronald Jackson Sr., who was allegedly …