Authement, Ingram Barge, Benzene & Leukemia: A case in the United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana ruled on a motion for summary judgment.
The Authement, Ingram Barge, Benzene & Leukemia case documents what many people (deck officers, mates, able bodied seaman, tankerman on various vessels in navigation) may face today that may have worked in or around the petroleum industry, chemical industry and the petrochemical industry (on oil rigs, oil platforms, boats, ships, oil tankers, tankers and vessels) and been exposed to Benzene – leukemia, kidney cancer or air borne chemical exposure. The court ruled: the motions should be GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED PART.
A brief summary of the facts include:
- This is a maritime personal injury action originally brought by Plaintiff Edward Authement.
- Plaintiff worked as a tankerman on various vessels in navigation from 1977 to 1993.
- Plaintiff alleges that he loaded and unloaded chemicals containing benzene at petrochemical facilities owned and operated by GATX and Valero.
- Plaintiff further alleges that he contracted Acute Myelogenous Leukemia as a result of his exposure to benzene.
- Plaintiff filed suit in July 2010. His second amended complaint named seventeen defendants, and asserted causes of action under the Jones Act and the general maritime law. The only remaining Defendants are GATX and Valero.
- Plaintiff has asserted causes of action against each for negligence under the general maritime law and strict products liability. It is undisputed that neither GATX nor Valero was Plaintiff’s Jones Act employer.
To find out more on the case, see Case No. 10-2107 – October 4, 2013.
BENZENE EXPOSURE
Benzene is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid that is highly flammable and is used in many industries, including, the petroleum industry, the petrochemical industry, the steel industry, the industrial chemical industry, the alkalies manufacturing industry, the paint industry and by the chlorine manufacturers.
Benzene exposure for workers in many aspects of:
- petroleum and gasoline refining
- as well as barge workers
- pipe-fitters
- tanker-men
- drum fillers
- shipping and receiving personnel in the petrochemical industry
- mechanics
- machinists
- other workers in a variety of general industrial occupations
- chemists
- laboratory technicians
- chemical workers and instrument men
- chemical truck and tank truck drivers
- rubber workers
- workers in the printing industry
- dry cleaning industry
- and others exposed to benzene in some form, including:
- gasoline
- crude oil
- and benzene-containing chemicals, such as:
- benzol
- naphtha
- toluene
- xylene
- reformate
- raffinate
- and many solvents and paint thinners
may cause:
- Leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL)
- Aplastic anemia
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
- Myelodysplasia
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or
- Lymphoma, including non-Hodgkins lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Kidney cancer
- Other potential problems
For more on benzene exposure, please follow this link: Benzene, Leukemia & Cancer.
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At the Gooch Law Firm, we pride ourselves on providing our clients reliable representation for even the most challenging cases.
If you have been diagnosed with a serious disease (e.g., kidney cancer, leukemia, AML, CML, MDS, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia etc.) from benzene exposure, and need a benzene lawyer to help you file a benzene exposure lawsuit, contact our office at 1.844.329.5955.
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