Chevron Toxic Exposure Lawsuit Grows, According to The Buzbee Law Firm and Co-Counsel

Chevron Toxic Exposure Lawsuit Grows, According to The Buzbee Law Firm and
Co-Counsel
PR Newswire
HOUSTON, Nov. 27, 2012
HOUSTON, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --More than 4,800 more residents,
workers, and visitors have joined the state court litigation evolving from the
August 6, 2012 explosion and fire at Chevron's Richmond, Calif.
refinery,TheBuzbee Law Firmand co-counsel John L. Burris announced today.
This new complaint coincides with the filing of the amended complaint made by
the original six plaintiffs represented by the Buzbee and Burris firms.
The lawsuits allege the refinery – with a history of at least 19 fires, spills
and explosions since 1989 – forced thousands of people to seek hospital
treatment for respiratory problems after a toxic plume from the refinery
endangered public health. Chevron also is accused of delaying public health
warnings around the refinery after the explosion.
The plaintiffs, who range from infants to the elderly, report a wide range of
health symptoms, including serious respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms
since the explosion and fire, according to the lawsuit. To date, a total of
4,872 area residents are suing Chevron.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Tony Buzbeeand Kyle Beckley of
The Buzbee Law Firm, of Houston, and John L. Burris and Adante Pointer, of the
Law Offices of John L. Burris, of Oakland, Calif.
The amended lawsuit alleges, "On August 6, 2012, a hydrocarbon leak was found
on a Crude Unit pipe. Chevron continued operating the Crude Unit despite the
obvious dangers involved. Within three hours of the leak's discovery, a fire
broke out. The blaze lasted several hours and sent a billowing cloud of toxic
smoke into the surrounding community."
John L. Burris, of the Law Offices of John L. Burris, said, "Chevron
compounded this public health threat by delaying the issuance of a county-wide
warning until hours after discovering the leak. This warning came too late for
the many in the public to avoid the toxic cloud. For others, the warning did
not reach them at all. As a result, thousands of area residents, workers, and
visitors were exposed to the toxic plume emanating from the refinery."
Tony Buzbee, of The Buzbee Law Firm, said, "This unit has a documented history
of leaks, improper maintenance practices, and troublesome safety practices.
Simply put, Chevron knew that there was a problem with their unit and failed
to take timely action, jeopardizing the health and safety of the entire Bay
Area."
The original case is "Charles Simmons, et al., v. Chevron USA Inc., et al,"
Case No. MSC12-01841 in the Superior Court of California, Contra Costa County.
The new filing is "Rebecca A.J. Adams, et al., v. Chevron USA, Inc., et al,"
Case. No. MSC 12-02777 in the Superior Court of California, Contra Costa
County. The lawsuits seek damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, and
court costs.
SOURCE The Buzbee Law Firm
Contact: Kyle Beckley, The Buzbee Law Firm, 713.223.5393, www.justwin.com;
John L. Burris, the Law Offices of John L. Burris, 510.839.3883,
www.johnburrislaw.com.