ORANGE -- The family of a deceased E.I. DuPont De Nemours employee has filed suit against the chemical company and 43 other businesses, claiming he was exposed to benzene during his career.
On behalf of Weldon Gibson, Edna Gibson filed the benzene suit Aug. 28 in Orange County District Court, seeking financial compensation for Weldon's death.
According to the petition, Gibson worked at DuPont's Sabine Works facility in Orange. However, the suit fails to list dates of his employment and duties performed, nor are any work records attached to the suit.
All the suit says is that Gibson was "exposed to toxic and carcinogenic benzene" during his employment.
"As a result of such exposure, Gibson developed acute myelogenous leukemia from which he died a painful and terrible death on Feb. 12, 2008," the suit says.
"Defendants knew for decades that � benzene could cause deadly cancers and still allowed their employees � to work around such products."
The suit continues by accusing defendants like Amco and Lyondell Chemical of failing to warn the public that their products could cause harm.
Gibson's family is suing for his mental anguish, pain, disfigurement and lost wages, on top of punitive damages.
They are represented by Provost Umphrey attorney Darren Brown.
The case has been assigned to Judge Dennis Powell, 163rd Judicial District.
Case No. B-080332-c
DuPont employee sues 44 companies for benzene exposure
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