Texas Parties Reach Settlement, Dismissal Order Signed

HOUSTON -- The judge presiding over a Texas federal benzene case has signed an agreed 90-day dismissal order, in which the parties request that the case be dismissed pending a final settlement. Brown v. Shell Oil Co., et al., No. 08-413 (S.D. Texas).

The Nov. 3 order signed by Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas permits the plaintiff to reinstate the case within 90 days should the settlement agreement not be finalized.

The underlying action involves the claims of Ben N. Brown Sr., who contends that his multiple myeloma (MM) …