Couple Seeks Over $1 Million in Benzene Exposure Suit

By Jennifer Griffith

Published on February 02, 2007

This is the first civil lawsuit of the year to seek damages in excess of $50,000.

Courtney and Jim Vostry are seeking $850,000 in actual compensatory damages and more than $150,000 in punitive damages plus all costs associated with the case.

The 28 defendants in the case include Apex Oil, BP, Conoco-Phillips, Marathon Ashland, Ozark Pipeline, Shell Oil, and Sinclair Oil.

According to the complaint, from 1967 to 1983 Courtney Vostry resided in Hartford where she was exposed to, inhaled, and ingested benzene and other hazardous products.

In 2005 Mrs. Vostry was diagnosed with myeloma, a chemically-induced illness. She claims she has since had to deal with medical bills, physical pain, and mental and emotional distress. Her husband, Jim, is also seeking damages for the loss of the companionship, love, and affection of his wife as well as other concomitants of marriage.

The couple’s complaint claims that the defendants are grossly negligent for exposing area residents to benzene and other toxins when they could have taken steps to guard their welfare.

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