June 12, 2025
A record-setting $725.5 million jury verdict against ExxonMobil has earned national recognition as one of the largest jury awards in the United States for 2024.
The product liability verdict ranks as the ninth-largest jury verdict of any kind nationwide this year; the fourth-largest product liability verdict; and the second-largest verdict in Pennsylvania courts, according to an analysis by ALM.com and VerdictSearch.
The verdict stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of Paul Gill, a former Philadelphia service station mechanic who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2019 after years of unprotected exposure to gasoline and solvents containing benzene. Mr. Gill worked at a Mobil station in the late 1970s where he routinely handled gasoline and petroleum products with his bare hands and inhaled fumes on a daily basis.
After just one day of deliberation, a Philadelphia jury found ExxonMobil liable for failing to warn about the known cancer-causing effects of benzene—a chemical the company acknowledged knowing to be dangerous as early as 1950.
The case was tried by Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel partners Patrick Wigle and Rajeev Mittal with co-counsel Andrew J. DuPont of the Locks Law Firm. Over seven days of testimony, the WKPS team presented powerful evidence that ExxonMobil concealed critical safety information that could have prevented countless cases of benzene-related illness.
The verdict not only secured justice for Mr. Gill and his family but also underscored corporate responsibility and the legal system’s role in holding companies accountable when they choose profits over people.
The case is Paul Gill and Diane Gill v. ExxonMobil et al., No 200501803, in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Benzene is a widely used industrial chemical found in crude oil, gasoline, and many petroleum-based products. It’s used as a building block in the production of plastics, synthetic rubber, detergents, dyes, resins, and lubricants. Because of its prevalence, benzene exposure is a common risk in certain workplaces—including gas stations, manufacturing plants, and automotive repair shops.
Benzene exposure can occur in a variety of ways, including:
Health experts have long known that benzene is toxic to the human body. It has been directly linked to a range of serious conditions, particularly cancers that affect the blood and bone marrow. These include:
Even short-term exposure can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and immune system suppression. Long-term or high-level exposure, as in Mr. Gill’s case, significantly increases the risk of developing life-threatening diseases.
Despite decades of scientific evidence, benzene remains in widespread use—making legal accountability, corporate transparency, and protective regulations more critical than ever.
How We Help Victims of Benzene Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced attorneys. Our Dallas, Texas, benzene law firm has battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for 20 years, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for dangerous chemicals and the personal injuries and cancers they cause. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury caused by dangerous products, we can help.
Our Results
Historic settlement for over 1,300 survivors of clergy and adult abuse within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment for justice.
A Philadelphia jury awarded a record verdict against ExxonMobil for failing to warn about cancer risks due to benzene in its petroleum products.
Private equity firm and co-defendants agree to pay $25M in Medicaid fraud case alleging mental health services provided by unqualified providers.
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