Defendants Remove Railroad Mechanic's Benzene-Related Lawsuit

CLEVELAND -- A former railroad mechanic's benzene lawsuit was recently removed to federal court because, according to the defendants, complete diversity exists between the parties and the amount in controversy limit is exceeded. Christopher v. Ashland Inc., et al., No. 07-03351 (N.D. Ohio).

The complaint was originally filed in the Court of Common Pleas for Cuyahoga County, where plaintiff Frank Christopher claims that the defendants are all manufacturers, processors, importers, coverters, compounders or merchants of benzene and benzene-containing products.

Christopher contends that his work as a railroad mechanic and railroad sheet metal worker and pipefitter for more than 30 …