A former teacher is suing Shell Oil in Roxana over claims of pollution.
Gerald Maberry filed a lawsuit on Sept. 15 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Shell Oil Co.; Equilon Enterprises LLC, doing business as Shell Oil Products; Conoco Phillips Co.; WRB Partner LLC; Cenovus GPCO LLC; and BP Products North America Inc. for neglect and willful and wanton unlawful conduct.
According to the complaint, Maberry worked in Roxana as a teacher and claims that the defendants' refineries failed to contain certain harmful hydrocarbons, such as benzene, safely and properly. As a result, the pollutants allegedly dispersed onto the plaintiff's work site, causing him bodily harm.
The complaint also states that the defendants neglected proper safety procedures and was aware of such contaminations but failed to properly prevent harmful chemical leaks, resulting in pollution of the air and groundwater, which leaked onto Maberry's work site.
Maberry is suing for damages of more than $50,000 due to injuries sustained and for court costs. He is represented by attorney Ted N. Gianaris of the law office of Simmons Hanly Conroy in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-1193