Parties in Louisiana Benzene Case Battle over Diagnosis

NEW ORLEANS -- The parties in a benzene case have exchanged briefing on whether the plaintiffs meet the diagnostic criteria for the illnesses they claim were caused by exposure to benzene. Cole, et al. v. Ashland Inc., et al., No. 09-6584 (E.D. La.).

In an Oct. 1 reply brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, defendant Ashland claims that while the plaintiffs purport to be suffering from polycythemia, they are in reality seeking recovery for multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome.

The underlying claims were filed by a group of plaintiffs who claim that …