Landowner Awarded $63 Million in Lawsuit After Cancer Diagnosis

In 2015, plaintiff Kevin Wright was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that can be caused by benzene exposure. Prior to this, in 1985, Wright built his home on land he purchased in Santa Maria, unaware that it had previously been a chemical pit for Union Oil Company, a Chevron subsidiary, in the 70s.

Wright sued Union Oil Company of California, alleging that the subsidiary failed to disclose the use of a toxic chemical sump pit for production purposes in 1974. Wright alleged claims for negligence and premises liability and punitive damages.

Wright lived at the house for two years and benzene, a known carcinogen, was discovered at toxic levels in the soil beneath his home decades after the property was sold again. His multiple myeloma is in remission, but he experiences severe pain on a daily basis and requires routine chemotherapy treatments to keep the cancer at bay.

Mr. Wright was represented by Taylor Ernst, of Ernst Law Group, and was awarded $63,000,000.