BP Class Action Lawsuit
BP Benzene Class Action in Texas
Once again, BP is facing a class action lawsuit. This BP class action lawsuit is based in a Galveston, Texas courthouse and alleges release of Benzene from a BP refinery. The BP refinery is in Texas City, TX, which is near Galveston. The suit alleges that the toxic substance Benzene was released into the atmosphere following an April 6, 2010 breakdown of a hydrogen compressor in its refinery.
Over 2200 plaintiffs in the BP class action lawsuit are claiming serious health issues were caused by the alleged Benzene leak. Plaintiffs are employees of the refinery as well as residents of Texas City, where the refinery is located. The suit claims that BP has been illegally releasing Benzene into the air, as recently as forty days prior to filing of the BP class action lawsuit on August 3, 2010.
The Texas City oil refinery is the third largest in the US, and had been cited previously for safety and environmental concerns. In September 2009 BP was fined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for not following safety agreements following a 2005 fire that killed 15 workers at the refinery.
Benzene is a known carcinogen, related to the development of cancer as well as leukemia and other life-threatening health problems. It’s also used in the production of synthetic rubber, plastic, dyes, and drugs.
BP was named in July in a BP oil spill class action lawsuit following the April 21 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, at a different location. This BP class action lawsuit was filed just days after the oil giant announced it had stopped the flow of oil in that oil leak, after over three months of failed attempts.
