Juries in the City of Chicago, Illinois have awarded multi-million dollar verdicts to workers with cancer who were exposed to benzene, a toxic chemical that is known to cause leukemia and lymphoma.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting benzene induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with cancer from benzene exposure, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
$7.5 Million Awarded in Chicago Benzene Lawsuit
In November 2016, a railroad worker named James Brown was awarded $7.5 million after he filed a benzene lawsuit in Chicago. He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) after decades of exposure to benzene in solvents and creosote while working for Chicago & North Western Railway (CNW) — Case No. 10-L-1213.
Mechanic With Cancer Files Benzene Lawsuit in Chicago
An auto mechanic with cancer filed a benzene lawsuit in Chicago, Illinois, in the Circuit Court of Cook County in February 2017. The man, Steven J. Williams, worked in repair shops from 1982 until he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He regularly breathed benzene fumes in the air from diesel fuel, parts washer solvent, paint, belt dressings, and more — Case No. 2016-L001056.
What is Benzene?
Benzene is a toxic carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemical. It is found in a wide range of products, including gasoline, solvents, degreasers, paint, rubber, adhesives, dye, plastics, and more. Benzene is a sweet-smelling, highly-flammable chemical that evaporates quickly.
Workers Exposed to Benzene
- Mechanics
- Railroad workers
- Oil and petroleum workers
- Tires and rubber manufacturing
- Plastic manufacturing
- Benzene transportation and storage
- And more
Types of Cancer Linked to Benzene
Exposure to benzene is primarily by breathing it in the air. When benzene gets into the body, it accumulates in the bones. This can cause the bone marrow to produce cancerous blood cells, resulting in leukemia or lymphoma.
Over time, breathing benzene is associated with several types of cancer:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Multiple Myeloma
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Aplastic Anemia
Information About the City of Chicago
The city of Chicago is the 3rd biggest city in the United States, after Los Angeles and New York, with a population of 2.7 million people living in 77 distinct neighborhoods. It is known as the “Windy City,” likely due to the breezes off Lake Michigan that sweep city streets.
Chicago is home to some of the largest skyscrapers in America, with a skyline dominated by the 1,451-foot John Hancock Tower. Chicago is world famous for its museums, deep dish pizza, jazz, and architecture. It is also one of only four U.S. cities to have sports teams from five major professions: baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and soccer.
77 Neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois
- Albany Park
- Archer Heights
- Armour Square
- Ashburn
- Auburn Gresham
- Austin
- Avalon Park
- Avondale
- Belmont Cragin
- Beverly
- Bridgeport
- Brighton Park
- Burnside
- Calumet Heights
- Chatham
- Chicago Lawn
- Clearing
- Douglas
- Dunning
- East Garfield Park
- East Side
- Edgewater
- Edison Park
- Englewood
- Forest Glen
- Fuller Park
- Gage Park
- Garfield Ridge
- Grand Boulevard
- Greater Grand Crossing
- Hegewisch
- Hermosa
- Humboldt Park
- Hyde Park
- Irving Park
- Jefferson Park
- Kenwood
- Lake View
- Lincoln Park
- Lincoln Square
- Logan Square
- Loop
- Lower West Side
- Mckinley Park
- Montclare
- Morgan Park
- Mount Greenwood
- Near North Side
- Near South Side
- Near West Side
- New City
- North Center
- North Lawndale
- North Park
- Norwood Park
- Oakland
- O’Hare
- Portage Park
- Pullman
- Riverdale
- Rogers Park
- Roseland
- South Chicago
- South Deering
- South Lawndale
- South Shore
- Uptown
- Washington Heights
- Washington Park
- West Elsdon
- West Englewood
- West Garfield Park
- West Lawn
- West Pullman
- West Ridge
- West Town
- Woodlawn
Do I have a Benzene Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting benzene induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with cancer from benzene exposure, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.