The Melnick, Exxon, 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 lived around service station, 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: affirm the trial court’s order.
A brief summary of the facts include:
- The basis of this claim emanates from an exposure to benzene and/or other components of gasoline that leaked from Hazelton service stations.
- Collectively referred to as “Four Service Station Sites” (Tranguch Tire Service, Inc., Sam’s Amoco, Orloski’s Shell, and Hazelton Standard Fuel Co., Inc.), these parties as well as their suppliers and distributors became the target for several hundred lawsuits in Luzerne County during the 2001 and 2002 calendar years.
- Mr. Melnick has indicated to me that he formerly resided at 961 North Church Street in Hazleton from 1962 to 1975.
- This is adjacent to Tranguch’s Tire and Automobile Service Center, which is felt to be the epicenter of the plume.
- He has also indicated that as his parents aged, he frequently visited them at the N. Church St. address to provide assistance, in particular between mid 1994 through 2002.
- As such, he has been exposed to benzene fumes and has an risk of developing MDS, leukemia, and lymphoma. Please note that this statement is being made as an expert witness, and not in the context of a physician patient relationship.
To find out more on the case, see Case No. 1607-MDS-2013 – June 9, 2014.
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.
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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