Judge Sets Deadline for Carbide to Pick Site of Bhopal Trial
NEW YORK — A federal judge gave chemical giant Union Carbide a June 12 deadline for accepting or rejecting his proposal to have all lawsuits stemming from the Bhopal gas leak disaster heard in India.
In addition, U.S. District Judge John Keenan in Manhattan rejected an attempt by attorneys for some of the victims to have a tentative settlement approved.
Carbide announced in April a tentative $350-million settlement with victims’ lawyers. The settlement was never made final because the government of India objected.
Keenan said in Wednesday’s order that no settlements were possible without the approval of India.
About 1,700 Bhopal residents were killed and 270,000 injured in the Dec. 3, 1984, leak of toxic methyl isocyanate gas.
Keenan ruled on May 12 that suits against Union Carbide would not be heard in his court. He said they must be heard in India, where most of the witnesses and claimants live and where most of the evidence could be found.
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