Plaintiffs Claim Non-Appearance by Defendant Justifies Award of Costs

LOS ANGELES -- Plaintiffs in a benzene action have filed a motion for costs, saying that a defendant's non-appearance at a mandatory settlement conference greatly benefits the defendant at the expense of the plaintiff. Loyola, et al. v. Union Oil Co. of California, et al., No. BC280498 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

The March 7 motion filed in the California Superior Court for Los Angeles claims that the defendant's failure to appear is not justified by an indication by plaintiffs' counsel that an attempt to continue the settlement conference would be made.

Plaintiffs Xavier and Cordelia Loyola claim …