Benzene Complaint Filed in Texas under Jones Act

HOUSTON -- A new benzene complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas contends that a former offshore seaman worker developed kidney cancer as a result of exposure to the carcinogen. Davis, et al. v. Shell Oil Co., et al., No. 09-384 (S.D. Texas).

The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 10 by Bobbie Jo Davis, who claims that her deceased husband, William G. Davis, was exposed to cancer-causing chemicals during his employment with Shell Offshore.

"Working conditions where the hydrocarbon products, solvents, and paints that were cancer-causing, posing an unreasonable likelihood and magnitude of harm …