EDWARDSVILLE — A former Pike County farmer and mechanic blames seven manufacturers of benzene-related products for causing his leukemia and other health problems.
Alan Bruce Cole filed a complaint on Aug. 13 in Madison County Circuit Court against Berryman Products, Illinois Tool Works, Permatex, Radiator Specialty Company, Savogran Company, Safety-Kleen Systems and the United States Steel Company.
Cole alleges the defendants manufactured and distributed a product dangerous to human health.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, during his career life, he was exposed to dangerous levels of benzene emanating from certain products manufactured, supplied and/or sold by defendants. He alleges that this exposure caused him to develop acute myeloid leukemia, which was diagnosed on or about April 2017. The plaintiff holds Berryman Products Inc. Illinois Tool Works inc., et al responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate warnings of the hazards associated with exposure to benzene-containing products.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks damages of more than $50,000, plus costs and expenses and all further relief as the court may deem just and appropriate. He is represented by Allyson M. Romani of Shrader & Associates LLP in Glen Carbon.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 18-L-1024