Defendants Back Removal of Benzene Suit, Say Ships Operated under Government Contracts

PHILADELPHIA –– Defendants named in a benzene exposure suit have backed their removal of the case to federal court, maintaining that federal jurisdiction is proper since the plaintiff was allegedly exposed to benzene while aboard ships operated under government contracts.

In an opposition brief filed on Dec. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, defendants American Overseas Marine Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. backed the removal, saying that American Overseas Marine Corp. operated the ships under instructions and orders of the Military Sealift Command of the U.S. Navy.

“…[T]herefore, AMSEA was in all respects …