Products Liability Law Reporter

Robert Howell started using products containing benzene when he was about 10 years old, including Liquid Wrench and Marvel Mystery Oil. He later worked as a mechanic’s assistant allegedly using Safety-Kleen, and performed transmission work for several years using mineral spirits. When he was in his late 40s, he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia.

He and his wife sued Palmdale Oil Co. and numerous other entities, alleging claims for negligence and strict liability. The plaintiffs alleged that Howell’s leukemia resulted from his exposure to the defendants’ benzene-containing products and that the defendants had failed to warn about the need to use protective equipment when handling the products, among other things.

The parties settled for a total of $3.5 million.

Citation: Howell v. Palmdale Oil Co., No. 50-2016-CA-013844-XXXX-MB (Fla. Cir. Ct. Palm Beach Cty. 2020).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Andrew DuPont, Philadelphia; and AAJ member Jeffrey Mansell, West Palm Beach, Fla.