Calif. Court Bifurcates Punitive Damages for Benzene Trial

LOS ANGELES -- A California court has granted an unopposed motion to bifurcate punitive damages in a benzene trial, but has yet to rule on a defense motion to bifurcate liability and damages, which has been contested by the plaintiffs. Garcia, et al. v. Allied Diagnostic Material, et al., No. BC310867 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

In a Feb. 8 filing, the Los Angeles Superior Court noted that the motion to bifurcate punitive damages was granted and that a hearing on a motion to bifurcate liability and damages was continued to Feb. 27.

Veda Marie Garcia claims that her …