Exxon, Shell Benzene Cases Batted to State Court

Exxon Mobil Corp. and Shell Oil Co. must answer benzene exposure claims in state, not federal, court after the Eastern District of Louisiana ruled July 31 a revised complaint extinguished federal jurisdiction over the case (Thomas v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 2017 BL 265408, E.D. La., No. 16-cv-15750, 7/31/17).

The ruling is the latest in litigation over what court should hear claims by Travis Thomas and other plaintiffs that benzene-containing gasoline products caused their leukemia.

Exxon and Shell fended off a bid by Thomas to send the case back to Louisiana courts earlier this year. Thomas added Jafri’s Faith ...