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LOUISIANA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Employee accuses oil exploration companies of refusal to mediate

Law money 06

NEW ORLEANS — A St. Tamnany Parish woman is suing two oil exploration companies, alleging refusal to mediate a medical benefits claim.

Alison Legros filed a lawsuit April 13 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against BP Exploration & Production Inc. of Warrenville, Illinois, and BP America Production Company of Houston, alleging they failed to comply with the medical benefits settlement agreement.

According to the complaint, Legros worked as a clean-up worker at the Fort Pike State Park, Rigolets Clean-up Center in New Orleans. The suit says her employment required her to work near the water's edge in a small and poorly ventilated building, leading to her suffering blurred vision and loss of smell. On Nov. 29, 2012, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the lawsuit states.

These ailments classify her as a “medical benefits settlement class member,” the suit says. 

The plaintiff alleges BP Exploration and BP America Production, between April 22-July 19, 2010, coordinated and directed sub-sea and aerial application of chemical dispersants into the Gulf of Mexico, and onto the gulf's surface where Legros was working, exposing her to the toxic materials in the dispersants. 

The suit says the defendants rejected to mediate in her medical claim and notified her of such rejection via letter dated Nov. 5, 2015.

Legoros seeks a trial by jury, compensation for monetary damages, legal interest, attorney fees and costs and for other relief to which she is entitled. She is represented by attorney Andre F. Toce of Lafayette.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-03050

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