S.C. Judge Vacates Order Granting Motion to Amend; Benzene Case Reassigned to New Judge

COLUMBIA, S.C. –– A South Carolina judge has vacated a recent order in which he allowed benzene plaintiffs to amend their complaint and also indicated his intent to remand the claims, citing an unexpected gift of stock in one of the defendants.

On Jan. 6, Judge Joseph F. Anderson of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina vacated an order he entered just three days earlier, saying that on that same day, he became, “through an unexpected family gift,” the owner of stock in one of the corporate defendants in the underlying action.

“Stock ownership, no matter …