GALVESTON - Two California seamen are suing BP and a number of companies claiming they were exposed to dangerous chemicals while assisting in the cleanup efforts from April's Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Court papers, filed June 18 in Galveston County Court No. 1, say Dewone Young and Eric Bush were employed by defendant Global Diving as environmental technicians aboard a four-point mooring vessel with which BP contracted to help in the aftermath of the explosion that killed 11 workers.
The ship was in the process of docking when it struck an offshore gas lift spur owned and operated by defendant Hilcorp, resulting in the emission of natural gas into the populated areas of the vessel, the suit says.
Young and Bush argue that they and other seamen were instructed to stay aboard the ship for a significant period of time while the gas spread.
Claiming they suffered from nausea and labored breathing,the plaintiffs received medical treatment an hour after the initial exposure began, the suit says.
They seek unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Arnold & Itkin LLP in Houston is representing the plaintiffs.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County Court No. 1 Judge Mary Nell Crapitto.
Cause No. 63,165