League City woman attributes husband's myelodysplasia death to benzene exposure at BP refinery

GALVESTON - A League City woman is suing BP and a host of other companies in response to her husband's 2012 death from alleged benzene exposure.

Sarah Follett's lawsuit, filed Aug. 2 in Galveston County District Court, explains that Edward Follett Jr. succumbed to myelodysplasia, an illness it asserts the decedent suffered as a result of his work as a laborer and operator from 1965 to 1996.

Joining BP as defendants in the suit are Exxon Mobil Corp. and United States Steel Corp.

Recent court papers state that the plaintiff's late spouse worked at the then-AMOCO refinery in Texas City where he "worked with benzene and products containing benzene and was exposed to the defendants' carcinogenic chemicals while on [their] premises."

They add he purportedly used a liquid wrench made from benzene-laced raffinate which was shipped by U.S. Steel for many of his tasks, ulimately leading to him contracting myelodysplasia.

Edward Follett Jr. died on Jan. 21, 2012.

"The defendants knew, actually or constructively, or should have known, that these toxic chemicals have the potential of causing cancer and other chronic diseases that could result in death and/or serious bodily disease," the original petition says.

Consequently, Sarah Follett seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

She is represented by attorney Tina H. Bradley of Hobson & Bradley in Beaumont.

Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the litigation.

Case No. 13-CV-997