Keith Hyde
The widow of a deceased refinery worker is suing Texaco and Chevron USA for "maliciously" exposing William English to asbestos.
English's surviving spouse, Gloria English, filed the suit through Provost Umphrey attorney Keith Hyde on April 8 in the Jefferson County District Court.
According to the plaintiff's petition English worked at Texaco's Port Arthur facility. During his employment in the labor and maintenance departments, he used and was exposed to toxic materials including asbestos dust and fibers.
"As a result of such exposure, William English, developed an asbestos-related disease for which he died a painful and terrible death on July 8, 2007," the suit said.
"The Defendants knew for decades that asbestos-containing products could cause the disease of asbestosis and asbestos-related cancers and still allowed their employees … to work with and around asbestos products. The Defendants acted with malice …"
The suit goes on to allege that the oil companies failed to timely and adequately warn workers of the dangers of asbestos, and take the necessary engineering, safety, industrial hygiene and medical precautions.
"As a result of the aforementioned malice and/or gross neglect of the Defendants, Plaintiffs seek claims for all elements of damages allowable under the law including exemplary damages and seek to recover from the Defendants, an amount in excess of the jurisdictional limits of this Court," the suit said.
"Further, Plaintiffs seek a claim for prejudgment interest for all elements allowed him."
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd Judicial District.
Case No. E181-562