Louisiana Judge Assigns October 2008 Trial Date in Benzene Case

NEW ORLEANS -- A judge overseeing a benzene lawsuit has issue a case management order after overseeing a pre-trial conference, scheduling the trial for October 2008. Tessitore v. Chevron Ornite Co., et al., No. 06-4126 (E.D. La.).

The order, entered recently by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, also outlines deadlines for pre-trial motions and expert designations.

Dean Charles Tessitore claims that his pressure washing duties at Gulf South Hydro Blasting for three years exposed him to benzene, causing him to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Tessitore claims he was exposed to benzene at Chevron's Plaquemines Parish (La.) …