Plaintiffs Ask Court to Reconsider Discovery Order Limiting Scope

DURHAM, N.C. -- Plaintiffs in a North Carolina case have asked a federal court to reconsider its order limiting the scope of discovery relating to benzene claims, saying that the order was entered before the plaintiffs had a chance to respond to a defense motion.Stromberg, et al. v. Ashland Inc., et al., No. 07-332 (M.D. N.C.).

On Oct. 23, the plaintiffs specifically claim that the court's order wrongfully narrows the scope of one inquiry to a 17-year time period beginning in 1985, when evidence indicates that the defendant tested its products for benzene concentration as early as 1968.

In an …