Court Rules on Amount in Controversy Dispute, Remands Claims

CAMDEN, N.J. -- The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has remanded a benzene soda lawsuit, saying that the amount in controversy does not equal the amount of retail sales as the defendants had suggested. Lamond v. Pepsico Inc., et al., No. 06-3043 (D. N.J.).

The court concluded that it did not have jurisdiction of the claims because the amount in controversy did not exceed $5 million, the June 8 order stated.

"The Court only has gross sales figures (and a dearth of evidence as to how those figures were computed) and no assessment value to …