Case Studies
A widow filed a product liability lawsuit against energy giant Exxon Mobil, claiming exposure to benzene in the company’s gasoline and other products caused her husband’s illness, leading to his death. The woman’s attorneys sought $30M for her husband’s wrongful death and an additional $10M in punitive damages.
Dr. Allison Stock from J.S. Held’s Environmental, Health & Safety practice was retained by the defense to testify on the veracity of the plaintiff’s claims. Defense counsel was complimentary of Dr. Stock’s perspective in the case, indicating that her testimony was “particularly effective” in debunking the plaintiff’s claims of causation. Following Dr. Stock’s testimony, the jury rejected the plaintiff’s claims for $40M, indicating the company’s products did not have defective design and there was no failure to warn.
(Yoranidis v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, Docket No. FST-CV20-6045701, Superior Court, Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, Stamford, Connecticut)
Allison Stock, PhD, MPH, MS
Senior Vice President
Environmental, Health & Safety Practice
+1 504 420 1896
[email protected]
> Toxicology Consulting Services
J.S. Held’s toxicologists provide support on health-based and environmental matters involving public health, exposure, risk assessment, and characterization. We are retained by clients to evaluate exposure, contamination, and toxicity to determine any adverse effects on human health or the environment. Our toxicology consulting services include expert witness and litigation support, risk mitigation strategies, forensic investigations, and regulatory consulting.
> Environmental, Health & Safety
Our EHS consultants provide specialized expertise in environmental damage and remediation, environmental due diligence, energy transition, toxicology and epidemiology, industrial hygiene, product stewardship and product liability, and human health and safety. Our team is engaged by corporations, utilities, public and private owners, developers, government organizations, insurance professionals, construction professionals, and the legal community to consult on matters involving the environment, human health and safety, and regulatory compliance.