Texas Benzene Exposure Claims for BP Refinery Toxic Release

Five years following a 2005 plant explosion and just when things started to look up with regard to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, BP is being sued yet again.  A little-reported 40-day benzene leak has triggered a new lawsuit against BP, claiming $10 billion in damages.  The benzene leak occurred at BP’s Texas City refinery and has led to two lawsuits already and created an environment of fear and confusion in the local community surrounding the BP refinery.

At least one lawyer believes that the benzene exposure lawsuits could obscure the deepwater drilling oil spill claims because many more people were injured by the BP Texas City refinery benzene leaks.  The benzene suit involves 538,000 pounds of toxic chemicals that leaked from BP’s Texas City refinery.   Thousands of local Texas City residents who were exposed to BP’s benzene emissions have joined in the class action lawsuit so far.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigated the leak and called it an “excessive emissions event.” The agency concluded it was probably caused by poor maintenance.  The Texas Attorney General’s Office is considering possible fines against BP.    However, BP does not believe there is any basis to pay claims in connection with this event.  BP is not taking or paying such claims.

The Texas City benzene leak has already produced more personal injury claims than BP’s Deepwater Horizon litigation.  The oil spill hasn’t killed anyone since the initial offshore oil rig explosion sadly took the lives of 11 crewmembers.

Benzene is toxic and a known carcinogen, and may be blamed for the health problems of thousands now and well into the future.  If you live in the Texas City area and were exposed to benzene during BP’s April and May toxic release, please contact SMSH today for my information about your claims at benzene@smslegal.com.