On behalf of the estate of Cecil Melancon, Peggy Melancon filed the suit Feb. 22 in Jefferson County District Court.
Some of the defendants include: Amoco, Atlantic Richfield, BP, Chevron USA, ExxonMobil, Shell Oil, Sunoco and Texaco.
According to the lawsuit, Melancon was a long-term employee of DuPont at its Beaumont Works facility. He worked as a lab technician and was exposed to benzene from the time he began his work there through the late 1970s.
As a result, he developed acute myelogenous leukemia, “from which he died a painful and terrible death” on Oct. 23, 2016, the suit states.
The plaintiffs contend the defendants were grossly negligent, entitling them to punitive damages.
Provost Umphrey attorney Darren Brown represents them.
Judge Justin Sanderson, 60th District Court, has been assigned to the case.
Case No. B-199624