The widow and children of a deceased refinery worker are suing the man's employer over his death.
Kathryn Drake, wife of the late Roy Clinton Drake, along with children Amy Williford, Angela Slaughter and Carl Alan Drake, filed a lawsuit June 4 in the Jefferson County District Court against ExxonMobil Corp., citing gross neglect.
The lawsuit states ExxonMobil knew for decades solvents, gasoline, benzene, benzene-containing products and other chemicals caused disease, but still allowed employees to use the chemicals in the workplace. ExxonMobil allegedly didn’t warn workers of the dangers and failed to take precautions to protect their safety, according to the complaint.
The Drake family is seeking damages for all elements allowable under the law, including exemplary damages, and seeks to recover an amount in excess of jurisdictional limits.
The family is being represented by D’Juana Parks of Provost Umphrey Law Firm LLP of Beaumont.
Jefferson County District Court Case No. D195-764
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.