According to the plaintiff’s attorneys, a Pennsylvania jury has ruled that ExxonMobil must pay $725.5 million to a former mechanic who alleged that exposure to toxic chemicals in the company’s gasoline and solvents led to his cancer.

The 10-2 decision was reached after a trial in a Philadelphia state court, where the plaintiff, Paul Gill, claimed he encountered benzene in ExxonMobil products while working at a gas station from 1975 to 1980.

Following a trial lasting just over a week, the jury found Exxon negligent for not adequately warning about the health risks of benzene, a known carcinogen classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The entire verdict consisted of compensatory damages, as confirmed by Gill’s legal team.

An Exxon representative criticized the verdict as “irrational” and stated the company would seek to reverse it through the court system, intending to pursue all available appeals.

Gill, now 67, alleged in his 2020 lawsuit that he was exposed to benzene through direct skin contact and inhalation while using petroleum products to clean car parts without protective gear. He was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer, in 2019.

“This verdict is significant as it establishes a link between their gasoline and cancer,” remarked Patrick Wigle, one of Gill’s attorneys. “ExxonMobil has been aware for decades of benzene’s carcinogenic properties, yet they resisted public warnings and failed to implement basic precautions to minimize exposure.”

Benzene is commonly used in the U.S. in motor fuels and industrial applications, including as a solvent for resins and plastics.

The EPA, which sets limits on acceptable benzene levels in fuels, notes that it can also be present in emissions from coal and oil combustion, vehicle exhaust, and gas station evaporation, among other sources.