By DAVID YATES
A couple has brought a benzene lawsuit against more than a dozen companies.
On June 26 Joseph and Judy Abate filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County District Court against Atlantic Richfield, BP Products, Chevron USA, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Gulf Oil, Huntsman, PPG Industries, Texaco, Goodyear, Total Petrochemicals, Union Oil, United States Steel and Wyeth Holdings.
According to the lawsuit, Joseph Abate worked as a pipefitter at various locations from approximately 1971 to the 1980s, including BP in Port Arthur and DuPont in Beaumont.
During his employment, Abate was allegedly exposed to benzene, including the use of a benzene-containing product caused Liquid Wrench.
As a result, he has developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the suit alleges.
The suit accuses the defendants of negligently manufacturing and using benzene, needlessly exposing Abate to the harmful chemical.
The plaintiffs are represented by Tina Bradley of the Beaumont law firm Hobson & Bradley.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, has been assigned to the case.
Case No. E197-280