Scheduling Order Entered in Press Operator's Benzene Lawsuit

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- A recent scheduling order has rejected preliminary efforts by defendants to limit discovery in a benzene lawsuit to product identification. Keller, et al. v. Ashland, Inc. et al., No. 05-02403 (D. Minn.).

The scheduling order was entered Dec. 15 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Robert and Gloria Keller claimed in their Sept. 12 lawsuit that Robert's work as a printer and press operator for more than 20 years exposed him to benzene-containing products, causing his acute myeloid leukemia.

The scheduling order states that discovery should be completed by Nov. 1, 2006; that …