Toxic tort over man’s cancer slated for trial in 2014

The remaining defendants accused of exposing a laborer to carcinogenic materials and causing his bladder cancer have agreed to a trial in early 2014.

William Boudreaux filed suit against R.T. Vanderbilt and several other companies on Nov. 16, 2011, in Jefferson County District Court, alleging he was exposed to nitrates throughout his career.

The complaint names Arkema, Ashland Oil, Atlantic Richfield Co., Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Cabot Corp., Chemtura Corp., Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., Chevron, ConocoPhillips Co., The Dow Chemical Co., E.I. DuPont Denumours Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., General Electric Co., Goodrich, Huntsman Petrochemical Corp., Meadwestvaco Corp., Meadwestvaco Texas, Nalco Co., Rohm and Hass Co., Shell Chemical, Shell Oil Co., Sunoco, Texaco, Texaco Refining and Marketing, TRMI Holdings, Union Carbide, Uniroyal and Union Oil Company of California as defendants.

An agreed docket control plan was entered in the case on March 26, slating the case for trial in January 2014.

Court records further show that on Nov. 13 Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, granted the plaintiff’s motion to non-suit Nalco, National Aluminate and Nalco Chemical.

A month earlier, on Oct. 23 Judge Floyd granted the plaintiff’s motion to non-suit Goodrich and R.T. Vanderbilt.

In his suit, Boudreaux claims he worked as a journeyman machinist and a machinist mechanic at the Texas U.S. and Ameripol-Synpol Corp. facility in Port Neches from 1966 until 1997.

Because of his exposure to the chemicals, Boudreaux developed bladder cancer and experienced physical pain, suffering and mental anguish, the suit states. In addition, he sustained disfigurement and lost wages, the complaint says.

Tina H. Bradley of Hobson & Bradley in Beaumont represents the plaintiff.

Case No. E191-358