Court Dismisses Case with Prejudice for Pleading, Causation Deficiencies

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Mississippi Circuit Court for Choctaw County has dismissed a benzene lawsuit with prejudice, citing the plaintiffs' failure to comply with orders addressing pleading deficiencies and medical causation evidence, sources told HarrisMartin. Simmons, et al. v. First Chemical Corp., et al., No. 2004-0036 (Miss. Cir. Ct., Choctaw Cty.).

The order was entered July 24 during a hearing scheduled to address a defense motion to dismiss the claims based on the failure to give specific information detailing plaintiff Watson Simmons' alleged benzene-related injuries.

Simmons claims he developed non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma was caused by exposure to benzene while he …