Waters Kraus
Paul & Siegel: Philly jury finds benzene in gasoline
caused former mechanic's leukemia diagnosis
PHILADELPHIA, May 10, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- A Philadelphia
jury has returned a $725.5 million
verdict against ExxonMobil, finding the company's failure to warn
about known health risks of exposure to cancer-causing benzene in
its petroleum products was responsible for a former service station
mechanic's acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis.
Jurors deliberated one full day before reaching a 10-2 verdict
for Paul Gill of Addison, New York. Mr. Gill was exposed to
benzene in ExxonMobil products, including gasoline and solvents as
a Mobil service station mechanic from 1975-1980. He testified about
using gasoline and solvents daily to clean parts by hand, exposing
him to benzene through the skin and by inhalation.
"This verdict is important because it's a finding that their
gasoline causes cancer. ExxonMobil has known for decades that
benzene causes cancer, yet they resisted warning the public and
taking basic precautions to limit exposure," said trial lawyer
Patrick Wigle of Waters Kraus Paul
& Siegel. "We're grateful that this jury listened closely to
the testimony and decided it's time to hold corporations like Exxon
accountable for placing profits over people."
According to the National Institutes of Health, there is no safe
level of exposure to benzene, which is a common ingredient in
gasoline, solvents and other petroleum-based products.
Over seven days of trial, Locks Law Firm and Waters Kraus Paul
& Siegel attorneys presented evidence that ExxonMobil concealed
information about benzene's dangers that would have spurred
businesses to use vapor recovery systems and have employees use. An
ExxonMobil representative testified that the company had been aware
of benzene's dangers at least since 1950.
The case is Paul Gill and
Diane Gill v. ExxonMobil et al.,
Case ID 200501803, in Pennsylvania's First Judicial District.
In addition to Mr. Wigle, Mr. Gill was represented by Waters
Kraus Paul & Siegel partner Rajeev
Mittal and Andrew J. DuPont
from Philadelphia-based Locks Law
Firm.
Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel is
devoted to helping families in personal injury and wrongful death
cases involving asbestos and mesothelioma, benzene, dangerous
pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and birth defects caused by
pesticides, toxic chemicals, opioid use, and semiconductor chip
manufacturing. Based in Dallas,
the firm represents plaintiffs in qui tam whistleblower
matters and cases that uncover false claims submitted to the
government. For more information, visit www.waterskraus.com.
Contact:
Robert Tharp
robert@atwelldesign.com
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exxonmobil-hit-with-725m-verdict-for-failure-to-warn-about-cancer-causing-benzene-in-gasoline-302142449.html
SOURCE Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel