Benzene Plaintiff Dies Before Expedited Deposition Can Take Place

CLEVELAND -- A plaintiff who claimed his exposure to benzene-containing rubber products caused his leukemia has died, just one week prior to his deposition, which the plaintiff had requested be expedited. Paonessa v. BF Goodrich Co., et al., No. 08-00021 (N.D. Ohio).

According to a Jan. 25 withdrawal of motion to take Donald Paonessa's deposition filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, counsel has also moved to substitute the decedent's successor or representative as plaintiff in the case.

On Nov. 26, Donald Rudolph Paonessa filed a lawsuit against several defendants he claims were involved with …