CHICAGO — A Cook County auto mechanic is suing BP, ExxonMobil and a dozen other defendants, claiming the chemicals in their products gave him cancer.
Steven J. Williams filed a lawsuit Feb. 1 in Cook County Circuit Court against Ashland Inc., BP Products North America Inc., Hess Corp., Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Co., E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Axalta Coating Systems LLC, CRC Industries Inc., Rust-Oleum Corp., Radiator Specialty Co., Heritage Crystal Clean LLC, Shell Oil Co., ExxonMobil Corp. and Marathon Petroleum Corp., alleging negligence, strict liability and breach of implied warranty.
According to the complaint, as Williams worked as an auto mechanic from 1982 until the present, he was exposed numerous times to benzene- or chlorinated hydrocarbon-containing products. Williams claims he developed multiple myeloma from exposure to diesel fuel, parts washer solvent, paint, belt dressings and other products with no warnings about their potential hazards.
Williams seeks a 12-person jury trial and damages of more than $50,000. He is represented by attorney Robert T. Bernat of Bernat & Bernat P.C. in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2016-L001056