Pa. Court Dismisses Defense Efforts to Dismiss Benzene Case on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds

PHILADELPHIA –– A Pennsylvania state court has denied defense efforts to dismiss a benzene complaint on forum non conveniens grounds, rejecting the defendants’ position that the case had no “legally significant connection” to the state of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County denied the defense motion in a one-page order issued Oct. 23.

In a Sept. 21 motion, defendants CRC Industries Inc., Sunoco, and U.S. Steel Corp. moved to dismiss the complaint on forum non conveniens grounds, contending that the plaintiff has lived his entire life in South Carolina and the alleged injuries occurred there. …