Defendants Seeks Summary Judgment in Louisiana Benzene Case, Cite Recently Excluded Testimony

NEW ORLEANS –– Three defendants named in a Louisiana benzene lawsuit say they are entitled to summary judgment in light of a recent decision in which a federal court excluded the testimony of the plaintiffs’ industrial hygienist.

Shell Oil Co., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., and Texaco Inc. argued in their May 29 motion that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana should award the defendants summary judgment since the plaintiffs’ causation experts relied on the excluded testimony.

The plaintiffs asserted the claims on behalf of Bernard E. Burst Jr., whose work at a number of gas stations …