Chevron Removes Benzene Suit, Says Federal Questions Exist Under OCSLA

NEW ORLEANS –– Defendants named in a Louisiana benzene suit have removed the complaint, saying that a federal question exists under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act since the plaintiff, in part, worked as a rigger on jack-up rigs.

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. removed the lawsuit to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on April 29.

The plaintiffs filed their complaint on March 29 in the Louisiana 25th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Plaquemines, contending that Ryan Eschete developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as a result of exposure to benzene-containing products.

Eschete allegedly came into …