Houston Law Firm Vujasinovic & Beckcom Files Mass Injury Lawsuit Against British Petroleum Over Benzene Release in Texas City, Texas

HOUSTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vujasinovic & Beckcom law firm has filed a lawsuit in Galveston, Texas federal court on behalf of 120 individuals who were exposed to benzene that was released from British Petroleum's Texas City refinery from April 6 through May 16, 2010.

Attorneys Brian Beckcom, Vuk Vujasinovic and Kenneth Fenelon represent these individuals who work or live near the refinery in Texas City in their claims against BP Products North America, Inc. in CA 3:10-CV-00295, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division.

A hydrogen compressor in the ultracracker unit began to malfunction on April 6, 2010.  The ultracracker processes oil and produces high-octane blending components for gasoline.  Because of the malfunction, BP shut down the compressor and began operations to fix it.  During these repair efforts, BP re-routed gasses to a flare.

As a result of this re-routing, a number of dangerous chemicals, including benzene, began releasing in to the air.  These chemicals were continuously released while BP tried to fix the compressor.  BP did not fix the compressor until May 16, 2010.  

During the 40 days while BP worked on its faulty compressor, 538,000 pounds of chemicals were released in to the air, including 17,000 pounds of benzene.  During this time period BP did not warn the Texas City community about the chemical release.

Benzene is a carcinogen found in oil that has been linked to various forms of cancer.  Exposure to benzene can also cause a number of other heath problems.

"We have some very strict intake standards on accepting these claims," says Mr. Vujasinovic.  "We are still being contacted by many people concerned about possible exposure to Benzene, and if their claims meet our intake protocol, we will continue to file more of these cases."

Vujasinovic & Beckcom focuses much of its practice on work related injuries, including mass injury cases involving refinery plant accidents.  The firm recently represented a large group of workers who were injured when one of the world's largest cranes collapsed on July 18, 2008 at the LyondellBasell refinery in Houston.  The firm currently represents many contractors recently injured at that same plant due to a fire.

The firm's founding partners, Brian Beckcom and Vuk Vujasinovic, are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

SOURCE Vujasinovic & Beckcom Law Firm

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