Benzene Case Links

BP Benzene Release & Toxic Exposure Fact Sheet (Download PDF)
Pursuant to the 3/1/11 Case Management Order, all claimants must complete this Fact Sheet to pursue their claim against BP.

CURRENT CLIENTS MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE CLIENT FACT SHEET TO US IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THEIR BENZENE EXPOSURE CLAIM AGAINST BP! NO NEW BENZENE CLIENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER MARCH 31, 2011.

Instructions for current clients:

1. Click the link above to download the Fact Sheet Form to your computer.
2. Completely fill out the Fact Sheet.
3. Click the "Submit Form" button on the top right.
4. Enter your Email Address and Full Name, and click "Send".
5. In the next window, if you select the option "Internet Email", the Fact Sheet will be saved to your computer.
   
6. Send an email to clflitigation@dcartwrightlaw.net with your completed Fact Sheet attached.

If you have any questions about the Fact Sheet or need help in filling it out, call us at 800-841-1191

March 1, 2011 - Case Management Order (Download PDF)
This order outlines pretrial procedures for all individual cases.

April 1, 2011 - Master Original Petition (Download PDF)
This petition shall be used as the master petition form for all individual cases.

April 21, 2011 - BP’s Original Answer to the Master Original Petition (Download PDF)

May 13, 2011 - Agreed Protective Order signed by Judge Cox (Download PDF)

September 21, 2011 - Plaintiffs’ Original Petition (Download PDF)
Our petition filed against BP for damages suffered by 10 clients from Benzene. This petition is representative of the form to be filed against BP on behalf of our clients.

October 26, 2011 - Defendants' Original Answer to September 21, 2011 Original Petition (Download PDF)

Benzene Case Information

Background of Current BP Benzene Exposure Case

Between April 6 and May 16, 2010, more than 530,000 pounds of the chemicals were released through flares at the BP Plant located in Texas City. BP did not report the extent of the chemical release until June 2010.

The Texas Attorney General has launched an investigation after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found the emissions released to be excessive. The Environmental Protection Agency is conducting its own investigation. The release included at least 17,000 pounds of benzene, which is 40 times more than the state reportable levels of known carcinogen.

More than 30,000 Galveston County residents are expected to sue the company claiming adverse health effects from the release. Judge Lonnie Cox of Galveston was assigned to prescribe over all BP Benzene claims. On March 1, 2011, he entered a Case Management Order (click to download), which provides the preliminary guidelines for all BP chemical claims.

On April 1, 2011, he approved the Master Original Petition (click to download) that must be used by each individual claimant for their BP chemical injury claims.

This is not the only time the Texas City Refinery has been under fire. The Texas City Refinery is the site of more than 15 deaths since 2005. BP has also been fined millions of dollars for safety violations at the Texas City Refinery.

The Effects of Benzene Exposure

Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon and it is linked to various types of leukemia and other fatal illnesses. Benzene poisoning typically happens when benzene is inhaled but your skin can also absorb the benzene. When you inhale the benzene it targets blood-forming tissues of the body.

Benzene is so powerful that it is able to effectively damage the bone marrow where the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets form in the body. Since these three components are essential in the makeup of blood, a shortage of them can result in several blood disorders and diseases.

Diseases Caused by Benzene Poisoning

Research has shown that exposure to benzene can cause anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Of all symptoms and diseases caused by exposure to benzene, leukemia is the most serious. Exposure to benzene can cause acute leukemia, which develops rapidly, as well as chronic leukemia, which progresses at a slower rate.

Benzene Leukemias and Benzene Cancers:

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)
• Non-Hodgkin's Leukemia (NHL)
• Multiple Myeloma
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Acute benzene poisoning is what someone experiences when they are exposed to a high level of benzene during a short period of time, such as the BP intention release of April 6 - May 16, 2010 from the BP Texas City Refinery. The measurements have indicated that the daily BP benzene release was over 40 times the state reportable level. In addition to benzene, BP has also acknowledged it has released other dangerous chemicals such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, propane and isobutene during this 40-day period.

Chronic benzene poisoning occurs when someone experiences exposure to low levels of benzene over a long duration of time. If someone is treated for acute exposure and survives, he or she is at risk of developing chronic, lasting effects associated with their exposure to the toxic chemical. Some common symptoms of chronic benzene poisoning are: tiredness, weight loss, headaches, heart attack, excessive bruising, vomiting, loss of consciousness, tremors, convulsions, bone or joint pain, infection and fever, an enlarged spleen, lymph nodes and liver, as well as other symptoms.

The 2011 Texas City Benzene Exposure Mass Tort Lawsuit

The 2011 MDL Mass Tort lawsuit, recently filed against BP in regards to the benzene exposure that occurred in Texas City from April 6 to May 16, 2010 for 40 days, is based on the legal theory of negligence.

Monetary recovery is allowed under a legal theory of negligence. Money damages can include past and future medical bills and lost past and future wages. Depending on the facts of each individual claimant's situation, compensation could also include: mental pain and suffering damages, permanent impairment/disfigurement, wrongful death damages, loss of enjoyment of life damages, and punitive damages.