Ala. Benzene Complaint Connects Exposure to Non-Hodgkin's Development

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A new benzene complaint has been filed in Alabama federal court asserting allegations that work as an engine repairman required the plaintiff to use benzene-containing products. Ballard v. The Sherwin-Williams Co., et al., No. 08-824 (M.D. Ala.).

In the Oct. 10 complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, the plaintiff invokes the discovery rule, saying that he was unaware of the nature of the cause of his illness until less than two years prior to filing the suit.

The complaint was asserted by Jimmy Ballard, who claims that since 1984, …