Benzene Victim Seeks Damages
Posted by Administrator (admin) on May 05 2009 at 6:16 AM
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GALVESTON – A Harris County man is seeking above $75,000 in damages from a marine shipping company based on Houston, claiming that he developed a severe illness as a result of benzene exposure.

George McWilliams has filed a personal injury lawsuit under the Jones Act in Galveston County District Court on Apr. 17 against his employer Kirby Inland Marine Inc. of Texas. The suit states that Kirby failed to provide the plaintiff with appropriate working equipment during his 17-year period with the company as a mechanic and expert engineer.

As a part of his job, McWilliams had to fix barges and hauled parts for other ships. The lawsuit states that McWilliams was exposed to benzene and other potentially dangerous toxic chemicals, as a result of which he developed severe and disabling injuries.

McWilliams argues that he was disfigured and impaired by benzene exposure and became unemployed.

The suit accuses the company of failing to maintain a safe work environment. It also states that the defendant neglected to provide a respirator when the plaintiff worked with injurious chemicals. It finally blames Kirby Inland Marine for not covering medical expenses of the plaintiff as specified in the Jones Act.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner.

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