Whether in Ohio or anywhere across the country, it’s far from unusual to find children playing outdoors. Many kids spend their days year-round running around in the woods, often near lakes and streams. Imagine the horror of discovering that all that time a child was getting fresh air and exercise, he or she was also being exposed to toxic materials.
A man in another state has filed a lawsuit claiming that very thing. As a child, the individual spent his days in an area near a refinery located close to his home and the public schools he attended growing up. The companies named as defendants made the products Rust-Oleum and Turtle Wax, which, the complaint alleges, involve the use of benzene and other pollutants.
Benzene, a highly toxic chemical, is classified as carcinogenic and has been linked to various types of cancer, including the cancer from which the man now finds himself suffering, acute myeloid leukemia. The complaint alleges that the companies should have ensured none of this hazardous substance or other dangerous pollutants were leaked, spilled or otherwise discharged into the air or water in the surrounding area. If such a dangerous emission did occur, the suit maintains that the companies are liable for failing to take any measures to warn the community or control the spillage or exposure.
The defendant holds that his cancer was due to the long-term exposure to these toxic materials that he unknowingly suffered as a child. He alleges numerous counts against the companies, including strict liability and negligence, conspiracy, and willful and wanton misconduct, and he is seeking $50,000 for each of the six counts in addition to further relief as the court deems fit. Residents of Ohio may wish to note this case, as many areas of Ohio have a historically high incidence of manufacturing and refinery companies. Anyone who has suffered from exposure to hazardous materials due to the error or negligence of such companies may benefit from the legal counsel of a lawyer with experience in product liability cases.
Source: madisonrecord.com, “Man alleges benzene exposure from Roxana refinery caused leukemia“, David Hutton, July 25, 2017
