Family of Former Machinist Files Benzene-Related Lawsuit in Louisiana Federal Court

NEW ORLEANS –– The family of a former machinist has filed a lawsuit in Louisiana federal court, contending that exposure to benzene-containing products caused him to develop chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In the April 8 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the plaintiffs maintained that Gulf Oil Corp., which has since merged into Chevron USA Inc., operated the refinery at which the decedent worked.

The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit on behalf of James Roberton Sr., saying that his work for Brown & Root as a machinist from 1970 to 1986 at the Alliance Refinery …