Refineries Sued After Benzene Exposure Leads to Illness and Death

The daughter of a deceased former metal worker has filed suit against the various refineries throughout Port Arthur, Texas he worked at for the personal injuries through illness he received and his eventual death after he was allegedly exposed to enough benzene at the refineries to cause him to develop leukemia. Sally Logsdon, the daughter of Lonnie Logdson, who was employed as a sheet metal apprentice from 1946 through 1952 at the refineries, seeks financial compensation for her father’s illness and death.

The suit, filed on March 18, 2008  in the District Court of Jefferson County, Texas, names Chevron USA, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., and Gulf Oil Corp. as defendants, claiming that Lonnie Logsdon was exposed to benzene during his six years of working as an apprentice in Port Arthur due to their negligence. They have been accused by the suit of “needlessly exposing him to products containing benzene.”

According to the suit, the defendants were aware of the chemical emissions, including benzene, and released them into the ambient air despite knowledge they would travel throughout the premises owned or operated by them and that persons such as Logsdon would inhale and absorb them.

The suit alleges that the defendants knew or should have known that the chemicals had a risk of causing cancer or other chronic diseases which could result in death. It also says that a significant amount of the emissions were unnecessary and could have been drastically reduced, which would have also reduced the resulting personal injuries, damages, and disease.

The suit also alleges that the defendants were negligent in their failure to provide a safe work place and take necessary safety precautions for the safeguarding of workers from benzene.

Sally Logsdon filed the suit seeking punitive damages, loss of companionship, and mental anguish in addition to the suffering, medical and funeral expenses, and mental anguish of her father.

 North Carolina citizens who have been injured by exposure to benzene may have a products liability claim against the manufacturer or seller of the products or supplies containing benzene. North Carolina citizens who have been injured by exposure to benzene in the work environment may also have a workers’ compensation claim.