Plaintiff Fails to Prove Crude Oil Exposure, Loses Summary Judgment Battle

MARTINEZ, Calif. -- A California court has awarded summary judgment to several defendants in a refinery exposure case, ruling that the plaintiff failed to provide evidence that he was exposed to the defendants' products. Remboldt v. ChevronTexaco Corp., No. C-04-00739 (Calif. Super. Ct., Contra Costa Cty.).

In an April 5 tentative order that later became official, the Superior Court for Contra Costa County specifically referenced requirements for asserting claims of exposure to crude oil, ultimately finding that Christopher Dana Remboldt did not establish that he worked with the defendants' crude oil.

Remboldt contends his illness was caused by exposure to …