Jeremiah A. Sprague
GRETNA – A Terrebone Parish woman is suing a number of oil corporations and related service companies for lung cancer she claims is due to exposure to radioactive materials her husband brought home from work.
Sandra Salmeron, and husband Julio, filed suit against Exxon Mobil Corporation, Exxon Mobil Oil Corporation, Humble, Inc., Marathon Oil Company, Placid Oil Company, Shell Oil Company, Shell Offshore, Inc., Swepi, LP, Intracoastal Tubular Services and Alpha Technical Services, Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Oct. 11.
From 1988 to 1994 Julio Salmeron was employed by Alpha Tech, a pipe cleaning contractor that conducted pipe cleaning operations for the defendants. Salmeron claims that due to her husband's work she was exposed to toxic and carcinogenic radioactive materials known to occur in pipes used in oil drilling activities. The plaintiff alleges that her recent lung cancer diagnosis is related to that exposure.
The defendant is accused of knowingly exposing the plaintiff to hazardous materials, failing to properly warn of the radioactive materials, failing to properly test their pipes for radioactive materials, failing to properly dispose of radioactive waste, failing to mark radioactive pipes, failing to prevent access to radioactive pipes, acting in a careless and negligent manner, engaging in an ultra-hazardous activity, not conducting operations so as to limit harm to the plaintiff and substantially contributing to the plaintiff's cancer.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical and mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of income, loss of wage earnig capacity, medical monitoring and medical expenses.
Salmeron is represented by Jeremiah A. Sprague of The Falcon Law Firm.
The case has been assigned to Division D Judge Robert M. Murphy.
Case no. 719-962.