El Paso Energy Seeks Dismissal of Complaint, Says Jurisdiction Lacking

NEW ORLEANS -- A benzene defendant has asked a Louisiana federal court to dismiss claims asserted against it by a former laborer, contending that because the state lacks any contacts with the defendant, the court cannot assert personal jurisdiction. Washington, et al. v. Baker Petrolite Corp., et al., No. 09-07926 (E.D. La.).

On March 19, El Paso Energy E.S.T. Co. filed a motion to dismiss in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, claiming that the plaintiffs had failed to sufficiently establish that Louisiana has enough of a connection to El Paso Energy to justify personal jurisdiction.