ST. LOUIS — A widow is suing Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Monsanto Company, Shell Chemical LP, and other makers of benzene products, alleging insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries.
Katherine Ayers, individually and as surviving heir of David Ayers, deceased, filed a complaint on Dec. 22 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against the defendants alleging that they failed to exercise ordinary care for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that at various times during David Ayers' work, he was exposed to and inhaled or absorbed benzene and/or benzene fumes emanating from certain materials and products that were produced, sold and distributed by the defendants. On Feb. 17, 2015 he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, and he allegedly subsequently learned that it was wrongfully caused. He died on Dec. 29, 2016.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they 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 in excess of $25,000, plus costs of this action, and all other relief that is just and equitable. She is represented by Richard L. Saville Jr. of Saville Law Firm LLC in St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1722-CC12014