A diver exposed to chemical dispersants, that BP oil used to clean the Gulf of Mexico following a 2010 oil rig explosion, has been left with debilitating injuries, while two of his fellow divers committed suicide, as reported by the Courthouse News Service.
The man, D.H., along with his wife have filed a personal injury lawsuit in Harris County Court naming several parties responsible: BP, NALCO Co., Halliburton, Transocean, ConocoPhillips, Xplore Oil & Gas and Stuyvesant Dredging Co.
NALCO Co. is named in the suit for product liabilities as it made the Corexit oil dispersants.
According to the suit, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion on April 20, 2010, credited as the worst oil spill in U.S. history, was cleaned up with 1.8 million gallons of Corexit that was injected into the Gulf of Mexico.
Starting June 1, 2010 through November 2010, D.H. performed commercial dives from boats and vessels that were in business with defendants ConocoPhillips, Xplore Oil & Gas and Stuyvesant Dredging Co.
The suit stated that the waters of the diving area "were contaminated with both the crude oil and the Corexit dispersants."
After his first dive in June, J.H. contended that he became aware that "something was different from his prior diving experiences." When he exited the water he noticed that his wetsuit looked "entirely different" than it did prior to the dive.
J.H. stated that neither he, nor any members of his dive team, had received any data on NALCO's Corexit dispersants. J.H. contacted the onsite ConocoPhillips supervisor and was given a number for the "BP Hotline."
The suit states, "BP's 'health and safety man' represented and assured Mr. (J.H.) and his dive that, notwithstanding the fact that they would be diving and spending a considerable amount of time in the Deepwater Horizon's oil spill, there was absolutely nothing harmful or hazardous to their safety or health in the oil, in the water…"
However, though the "health and safety man" told J.H. that the divers did not require "haz-mat dive gear", the suit contends otherwise.
The dive crew proceeded to work up to 20 hours per day for approximately 10 to 14 days. Within the next five months they continued to work in the water, with wetsuits that looked "like something they had never seen before prior to starting these diving operations back in June 2010."
While on the job one diver grew ill, later two divers committed suicide and J.H., after seeking treatment from a Louisiana-based doctor who is experienced in treating hundreds of patients contaminated with oil and Corexit, suffered with "progressing medical problems."
The suit alleges that J.H. "cannot walk, his vision has progressed to being legally blind in his left eye and his most recent eye examination shows that he continues to lose sight in his right eye, and for all intents and purposes, is a paraplegic…"
The suit is asking for a myriad of damages for gross negligence, negligence under general maritime law, products liability under general maritime law, punitive damages for past and future physical pain and suffering, past and future mental pain, suffering and anguish, past and future medical bills and lost wages.
If you are suffering with a personal injury, no matter how small or large, you must contact a personal injury lawyer. Recovering your damages in a monetary award can help with your pain and suffering.