Benzene Defendant Opposes Preferential Trial Setting Motion

LOS ANGELES -- A defendant in a benzene action has opposed the plaintiffs' attempts to receive a preferential trial setting, arguing that the plaintiffs have not sufficiently proved that one of the plaintiffs has a substantial interest in the case. Loyola, et al. v. Union Oil Co., et al., No. BC280498 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

In a Sept. 14 opposition filed in the California Superior Court for Los Angeles County, defendant Chemcentral argues that the evidence 'falls short' of establishing that the decedent's granddaughter is a proper wrongful death plaintiff.

Plaintiffs Xavier and Cordelia Loyola claim that Xavier's …