Keith Hyde
ORANGE -- Claiming he was exposed to benzene, Layfette Granger and his wife Martha have filed a lawsuit against Shell Oil and 28 other corporations.
The suit was filed July 24 in Orange County District Court.
The suit does not state when Granger was exposed, where he was exposed or how he was exposed, nor does it describe his alleged injury.
However, the suit says the defendants negligently failed to warn him of the adverse health effects of benzene, and that they neglected to tell him about protective equipment and safe procedures.
Benzene, a natural constituent of crude oil, is used as an additive in gasoline and is also an important industrial solvent and precursor in the production of drugs, plastics, synthetic rubber and dyes.
Some of the defendants in the suit include Chevron, Texaco and Shell Oil.
The suit alleges the defendants acted willfully, wantonly and with conscious disregard for consequences, constituting grounds for punitive damages.
In addition to punitive damages, Thompson is suing for physical pain and suffering in the past and future, mental anguish in the past and future, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical impairment in the past and future, and past and future medical expenses.
The plaintiffs are represented by Provost Umphrey attorney Keith Hyde.
The case has been assigned to Judge Pat Clark of the 128th Judicial District.
A-080292-c