NEW ORLEANS - A former employee of a New Orleans power utility plant has filed a lawsuit claiming that years of working with a benzene-containing product has caused him to develop cancer.
Homer A. Lindsay and Aleta G. Lindsay filed suit against Radiator Specialty Co. on Nov. 29 in federal court in New Orleans.
Homer Lindsay worked at New Orleans Public Services performing maintenance, repairs, and installation of instruments, controls, and piping from October 1971 through December 1986, the suit says. He worked with the defendant's product "Liquid Wrench" from 1971 to 1978, which allegedly contained benzene.
Lindsay states that the benzene exposure has caused damage to his bone marrow and blood forming organs, resulting in multiple myeloma.
The defendant is accused of negligent misrepresentation, concealing, suppressing, omitting material information about the health effects of benzene and failing to inform users of precautionary measures to be used when handling or near benzene.
Lindsay is asking for an award of damages for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, disfigurement, embarrassment, physical impairment, lost earnings, lost earning capacity, physical impairment, physical and mental disabilities, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, fear of cancer, loss of society, consortium, companionship, services, nurture, and love and affection, wrongful death damages, survival damages, court costs, and interest.
The plaintiffs are represented by L. Eric Williams Jr. of Williams Law Office in Metairie. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-02852