March 13, 2025
A record $725 million benzene-exposure verdict earned by Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel attorneys was the focus of a recent news report by the popular economic National Public Radio news program Marketplace. The report by host and correspondent Sabri Ben-Achour explores the drivers behind a series of so-called “nuclear” verdicts — large monetary verdicts against corporations in serious injury litigation.
Injury Verdicts on the Rise
“The frequency of large verdicts has arguably been increasing over the past decade or so, though it depends on how you slice the data,” notes Ben-Achour. “Different analyses give different results. Their size, however, has clearly been growing. The average personal injury compensation awarded by juries increased around 250% between 2009 and 2019, according to the Swiss Re Institute. In 2023, there were 89 verdicts of more than $10 million in the United States, 27 of them over $100 million — a record, according to Marathon Strategies. By Marzen and his colleagues’ count, nuclear verdicts between 2012 and 2021 totaled $431 billion… This is making insurers increasingly nervous.”
Ben-Achour spoke with Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel partner Patrick Wigle and co-counsel Andrew DuPont of the Locks Law Firm about their May 2024 verdict. A Philadelphia jury in that case found Exxon liable for negligently failing to warn about the health risks of benzene, which the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) has classified as a known carcinogen. During the trial, Wigle and DuPont presented evidence that Exxon had been aware of the dangers of benzene at least since the 1950s but failed to warn the public or take basic precautions to help those like Mr. Gill limit exposure.
While corporate defense lawyers and insurers have coined the term “nuclear verdict” in an effort to cast doubt on the authority of juries to reach fair verdicts, Wigle and DuPont note that the jury in their case heard powerful evidence of Exxon negligence in failing to warn users about the dangers of benzene. As a result, Mr. Gill’s life was forever changed by the cancer and serious medical complications that he suffered.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Gill worked as a mechanic at a Mobile service station between 1975 and 1980 and used gasoline and other petroleum products to clean car parts with his bare hands, which exposed him to benzene through direct skin contact and inhalation. He was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, in 2019. Jurors heard testimony that the medical treatment for his leukemia caused his immune system to weaken and resulted in a colon cancer diagnosis.
Benzene: No Safe Level of Exposure
According to the National Institutes of Health, there is no safe level of exposure to benzene, which is a common ingredient in gasoline, solvents and other petroleum-based products.
What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia?
AML occurs when the bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells, called myeloblasts, which crowd the bone marrow and prevent the production of normal blood cells.
Symptoms include fatigue, fever, easy bruising or bleeding, and recurrent infections.
Causes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
In addition to risk factors like smoking, previous chemotherapy treatment, and exposure to radiation, benzene exposure is a known risk factor for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults.
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.
Confidential settlement for the wife of a Rhode Island man who died of mesothelioma cancer after exposure to window glazing compound contaminated with asbestos.
That’s the first question everyone asks. The truth is it’s impossible to know. But we can tell you this. Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has what it takes to fight against big corporate interests and win. That’s why we’ve recovered more than $1.3 billion for clients like you.
