Louisiana Judge Refuses to Postpone Feb. 2015 Trial Date in Benzene Case

NEW ORLEANS –– A Louisiana federal judge has denied Shell Oil Co.’s motion to postpone a benzene trial scheduled for early next year, saying it has not shown good cause to continue the trial.

In the Dec. 8 order and reasons, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana found the defendant would not be deprived of adequate representation since it currently has seven attorneys working on the case.

The plaintiffs asserted the claims on behalf of Bernard E. Burst Jr., whose work at a number of gas stations allegedly exposed him to benzene-containing gasoline. As a result …