Court Affirms Finding that California is a 'Seriously Inconvenient Forum'

SAN FRANCISCO -- A California appellate court has affirmed a superior court's decision to stay proceedings in a benzene case until the plaintiffs have an opportunity to re-file the claims in Texas. Morris, et al. v. AGFA Corp., et al., No. A112832 (Calif. Ct. App., First Dist., Div. 1).

In the Nov. 21 ruling, the California First District Court of Appeals found that the defendants' offer to waive the statute of limitations defense in Texas made that more appropriate forum available to the plaintiffs.

According to the opinion, the plaintiffs in the action filed the lawsuit on behalf of Glenn …