Tenn. Defendants Permitted to Amend Answers in Benzene Case

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Several defendants named in an aplastic anemia benzene case have filed amended answers to the complaint, after they said additional defenses became evident during discovery. McCarter, et al. v. Alcoa, et al., No. 06-00141 (E.D. Tenn.).

On July 23, Judge Thomas W. Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee issued an order granting the defendants' motions to amend their answers. On July 25, several defendants filed amended answers, including Amoco Oil Co., BP Amoco Corp., BP Oil Co., Chevron Phillips Chemical, Chevron Texaco Corp., Equilon Enterprises, Exxon Mobil Oil Corp. and Shell …