Court Dismisses Claims Against Employer, Allows Claims Against Executive Officers to Proceed

NEW ORLEANS -- A Louisiana federal court has dismissed benzene claims against a decedent's employer as barred by the state's Workers' Compensation Act but ruled that claims against the executive officers of that employer could proceed. Frank v. Shell Oil Co., No. 11-871 (E.D. La.).

In the Oct. 31 ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana found that the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act barred the claims against Shell Oil Co. and Shell Chemical Co.

Lois Frank brought the claims on behalf of her deceased husband, Welman Frank, who was allegedly exposed to benzene while working as …