Louisiana Court Dismisses GATX from Benzene Suit; Allows Claims to Proceed Against Valero

NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana federal court has dismissed GATX from a benzene case after it determined that it could not be held liable for its role as a company that provided “bulk storage services” to transporters of benzene-containing products.

In the same Oct. 4 decision, however, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana allowed product liability and negligent failure-to-warn claims to proceed against Valero, since there was a question of fact as to whether the defendant manufactured a harmful product.

Edward F. Authenment III filed the complaint, contending that his work as a deckhand and tankerman …