Philadelphia Mechanic Awarded $816 Million in Historic Benzene Cancer Lawsuit Against ExxonMobil

Landmark Verdict Sends a Clear Message: Companies Must Be Held Responsible for Failing to Protect Workers from Known Carcinogens

In one of the most significant environmental and workplace safety verdicts in U.S. history, a Philadelphia jury awarded a former service station mechanic $816 million after determining that ExxonMobil failed to warn workers about the cancer risks associated with benzene—a toxic chemical commonly found in gasoline. This verdict, originally set at $725.5 million and increased by $90.5 million for delay damages, reflects not only the severity of the plaintiff’s suffering but also the growing demand for corporate accountability.

This case stands as a warning to companies that for decades have prioritized profits over the health and safety of the workers who keep their industries running. It sends a message that if a corporation knows its products cause cancer and chooses to hide those dangers, it will be held legally and financially responsible.

The Story Behind the $816 Million Verdict

The plaintiff in this case was a Philadelphia-based mechanic who worked for years at a service station, regularly handling gasoline and petroleum-based products. Over time, he developed cancer linked to chronic benzene exposure, which, according to evidence presented at trial, ExxonMobil knew posed serious health risks.

Medical records, expert testimony, and internal documentation showed that ExxonMobil had long-standing knowledge of benzene’s link to cancer. Despite this, the company failed to adequately warn mechanics, gas station workers, and others in the petroleum distribution chain. The court found that ExxonMobil had opportunities to reduce benzene levels, post proper warnings, or implement safety measures—and failed to act.

As a result of this negligence, the jury issued a massive punitive damages award designed not just to compensate the victim, but to punish ExxonMobil and deter other corporations from ignoring scientific warnings.

Benzene: A Known Carcinogen With Devastating Health Effects

Benzene is a highly toxic and well-documented cause of cancer. It is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is conclusively linked to human cancers. The most common illnesses associated with benzene exposure include:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Aplastic Anemia and Other Blood Disorders
• Bladder Cancer
• Lung Cancer

For workers like mechanics, refinery staff, truck drivers, and others who spend long hours near gasoline and vapors, benzene exposure often occurs without proper protective gear or warning. When cancer appears years later, victims are left struggling not only with health costs, but with unanswered questions about how and why they were never told of the risk.

Court’s Decision: Why ExxonMobil Was Held Liable

During the trial, it was revealed that ExxonMobil had internal documentation showing clear knowledge of benzene’s cancer-causing effects, dating back decades. Yet the company made no meaningful effort to educate or protect the workers using their products.

Key points from the court’s findings include:

• Negligence in workplace safety: ExxonMobil failed to implement or require safety procedures that could have reduced benzene exposure.
• Failure to warn: Gasoline containers and safety materials lacked clear disclosures about benzene’s risks.
• Corporate prioritization of profits: Internal decisions weighed the cost of warning the public against potential business losses.
• Delay damages: ExxonMobil’s appeal efforts delayed justice and added over $90 million to the final verdict.

Judge Michael Davis, presiding over the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, stated that the damages reflect not only the harm suffered by the plaintiff but also the company’s willful disregard for human life. The ruling affirms a powerful standard: companies are not above the law, and when they knowingly endanger lives, they will be held accountable.

What This Verdict Means for Workers and Families Nationwide

The $816 million verdict is part of a growing national trend in which courts and juries are no longer willing to tolerate corporate deception and disregard for public safety. Similar cases have been filed across the country by mechanics, refinery workers, truckers, and others suffering from cancers linked to prolonged benzene exposure.

Many workers were never told that the fuel they handled every day contained a chemical known to cause blood cancers. Some were even misled into believing their jobs were safe as long as they followed standard procedures—procedures that never warned them about benzene or provided meaningful protection.

This ruling should encourage other workers and their families to come forward. If you or someone you love has developed cancer and worked around gasoline, solvents, or petroleum products, you may have a case worth pursuing.

Who May Qualify to File a Benzene Exposure Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a benzene lawsuit if:

• You worked as a mechanic, refinery worker, fuel transporter, or chemical plant employee
• You regularly used or were exposed to gasoline, solvents, or petroleum products
• You were diagnosed with leukemia, MDS, lymphoma, or a blood disorder
• You were not warned about the cancer risks associated with your work or workplace exposure
• Your child or loved one developed cancer and was regularly near these substances

Families who lost a loved one to a benzene-related cancer may also file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.

What Can Be Recovered in a Benzene Cancer Lawsuit?

Benzene exposure lawsuits may provide compensation for:

• Medical costs, including treatment, hospitalization, and future care
• Lost wages, income, or future earning potential
• Pain and suffering, for physical pain and emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life, especially in long-term or terminal cases
• Funeral and burial expenses, in wrongful death cases
• Punitive damages, as seen in the ExxonMobil case, when corporate misconduct is severe

Our firm handles all legal work from start to finish. We investigate exposure history, secure medical evidence, and fight for the maximum compensation available under the law.

Why Choose Parker Waichman LLP

At Parker Waichman LLP, we represent workers and families across the United States who have been harmed by toxic chemical exposure. We understand how devastating a cancer diagnosis is—and how much worse it feels when you realize it could have been prevented.

We do not charge any upfront legal fees. We only get paid if we recover money for you.

Our national team of toxic tort attorneys is equipped to investigate your exposure history, hold powerful corporations accountable, and fight for the justice you and your family deserve.

Contact Parker Waichman LLP For a Free Case Review

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with leukemia or another benzene-related cancer after working with gasoline, solvents, or petroleum products, now is the time to act.

You may be entitled to substantial compensation.

At Parker Waichman LLP, we are investigating benzene exposure cases nationwide. Let us evaluate your claim and explain your legal options at no cost to you. Our team is ready to help hold companies like ExxonMobil accountable for the harm they’ve caused.

Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) today for a free, confidential consultation. Justice may begin with one call.