Maryland Judge Dismisses Gasoline Release Complaint Against BP, Citgo

FREDERICK, Md. -- A Maryland trial court has granted motions to dismiss in which defendants BP and Citgo claimed that they could not be held liable for alleged gasoline releases from a service station. Ayala v. CITGO Petroleum Corp., et al., No. 10-C-10-0890 (Md. Cir. Ct., Frederick Cty.).

Sources told HarrisMartin that Judge John H. Tisdale of the Maryland Circuit Court for Frederick County issued his decision from the bench on Nov. 30, rejecting the plaintiffs' arguments that it was premature to determine the amount of control the defendants had over the station. On Dec. 1, the judge entered an …