Plaintiffs in Multi-Plaintiff Benzene Suit Take Venue Dispute to High Court

AUSTIN, Texas -- Plaintiffs involved in a multi-plaintiff benzene action have asked Texas' highest court to reverse a ruling that the claims should be transferred or dismissed. Anderson, et al. v. Crown Central LLC, et al., No. 08-0033 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

In their March 12 petition for review filed in the Texas Supreme Court, the plaintiffs argue that the intermediate appellate court's severance of the claims could result in as many as 16 separate lawsuits in 16 different counties, a move that was both "improper" and in conflict with prior case law.

"In splintering each plaintiff's suit into at …