Exposure to radioactive materials alleged in suit against Exxon Mobil, others

GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish man is suing two multinational oil companies and a local drilling pipe cleaning company over injuries he claims to have received from alleged exposure to radioactive materials.

Norris B. Smith filed suit against Exxon Mobil Corporation, Intracoastal Tubular Services Inc. and Chevron USA Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Sept. 18.

Smith claims he was exposed technologically enhanced radioactive materials (TERM) because he lived within close distance to the Intracoastal Tubular Services in Harvey where they pulverized the contaminated material and it became airborne. The plaintiff alleges From 1959 to 1992 the pipe yard was open to neighborhood children who played on and around the pipes. Smith asserts that he lived around the pipe yard almost continuously from 1959 until 1996 except for a short stint in the U.S. Army. The plaintiff claims that during much of that time he was breathing in large quantities of TERM dust and that he also played in the pipe yard when he was a child. In July 2013 Smith was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer which he attributes to the TERM exposure.

The defendant is accused of failing to properly contain the radioactive waste and allowing the community at large to be exposed to it.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity.

Smith is represented by Henry T. Dart of Henry Dart Attorneys at Law PC and Michael H. McIntire of Madisonville-based McIntire & McIntire LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division F Judge Michael P. Mentz.

Case no. 731-175.