Martinez Refinery Toxic Chemical Lawsuit
For years, the Martinez Refining Company has been exposing the residents of Martinez and nearby communities to toxic chemicals that are released from its oil refinery. On July 25, 2024, local residents fought back with a lawsuit filed by Cutter Law and Tork Law.
Recent Update: On February 1, 2025, a fire broke out at the Martinez Refinery that caused injuries, toxic smoke exposure, and emergency evacuations, leading to legal action from affected residents.
Martinez Refinery Fire - February 2025
Many residents, including veterans and families with children, evacuated on their own due to a lack of timely emergency alerts and reports of explosions. Some sought medical treatment for respiratory issues, while others feared for their safety as the fire grew. The delayed response and lack of immediate guidance led to legal actions from affected individuals who experienced health effects and disruption from the incident.
Resident Stories From the Recent Fire
Vanessa Pipkins
Vanessa Pipkins, who lives about a mile from the refinery, could see the fire from her front yard. As she watched, the fire was getting “bigger and bigger” and that she was hearing “weird rumbling noises” coming from the refinery that made her afraid that the refinery was “going to explode.”
Her calls to 911 did not result in any guidance on what she should do. Afraid for the safety of her family, Ms. Pipkins packed up her kids and pets and left the area. At the time Ms. Pipkins evacuated, no warning sirens had gone off and no alerts had been received by Ms. Pipkins. It was only after she was safely out of the area that she finally received an emergency alert.
Here are several pictures she took from her neighborhood as she fled:
Jeremie Wickman
Jeremie Wickman was at his home about ¼ of a mile from the refinery with his wife and grandson when the February 1, 2025 fire broke out.
Mr. Wickman is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Army, having retired after a 20-year career with the rank of Master Sergeant. Mr. Wickman served three tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq, and is no stranger to dangerous situations. After seeing the fire break out, he took action. He packed up his wife, grandson, and daughter, drove to collect his elderly (and sick) mother who lives nearby, and he took them about 20-miles out of the area to a hotel to escape the toxic smoke from the refinery.
While packing up his family, Mr. Wickman heard multiple “explosions” at the refinery, and it was not until several hours after the fire broke out (and when he was already safe at the out-of-town hotel) that Mr. Wickman received an emergency notification on his cell phone about the fire. Mr. Wickman contacted counsel on Saturday evening once he was safe, and was notably hoarse from the smoke exposure (among other symptoms).
Here’s a video that Mr. Wickman captured from his bedroom window before evacuating:
Lannay Tinsley
Lannay Tinsley (on file in the Manning action) lives less than two miles from the refinery and had to go to the emergency room on Saturday afternoon for treatment resulting from her inhalation of toxic smoke and particulates from the fire.
Alice Saliba
Alice Saliba, who lives about half of a mile from the refinery, was also admitted to the ER on Saturday evening after experiencing shortness of breath, a burning sensation on her face and eyes, a soar throat, and tightness in her chest from exposure to the toxic smoke from the fire.
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Martinez Refinery Lawsuit Updates
- December 2024: Federal Judge confirms plaintiffs’ claims against the refinery can proceed. View Judge’s order.
- November 2024: Cutter Law has filed the claims of approximately 700 clients on eve of the two-year anniversary of the Thanksgiving Day 2022 release.
Cases Filed
| Case | Date | # of Individual Clients Harmed |
|---|---|---|
| Frye, et al. v. Martinez Refining Company, LLC | July 25, 2024 | 18 |
| Saliba, et al., vs. Martinez Oil Refining Company LLC, et al. | November 19, 2024 | 285 |
| Silvestri et al., vs. Martinez Oil Refining Company LLC, et al. | November 21, 2024 | 195 |
| Manning et al., vs. Martinez Oil Refining Company LLC, et al. | November 22, 2024 | 204 |
Lawsuit Overview
Filed in federal court in California, the lawsuit includes claims of negligence, public and private nuisance, premises liability, trespass, and strict liability for ultrahazardous activities against Martinez Refining. Federal and local authorities have launched investigations into the refinery’s practices and the potential effects of the chemical releases on the surrounding community.
Four major chemical release events occurred between November 2022 and December 2023 because of the refinery’s internal failures. However, the refinery did not take corrective measures and delayed reporting the incidents as required by law. Residents and property owners are now seeking compensation for personal injuries and property damage from those discharges. They are also seeking a court order declaring that Martinez Refining’s ongoing operations constitute a public and private nuisance.
Client Stories
“The ash fell like snow flurries.”
Ms. Saliba lives about a half mile from the refinery and was at a park near the refinery on Thanksgiving Day 2022 with her grandkids and family. They could smell the burning from the refinery as they ate and played. She was also present at her home for the July, October, and December 2023 events, and she recalls a strong gas-like scent permeating her home.
As a result of her exposures, Ms. Saliba has developed memory issues, brain fog, sore throat, coughing, itchy, watery, burning eyes, rash, hives, headaches, sinus pain, pressure, and eczema on eyelids, among other medical issues.
“Dust coating parked cars”
Ms. Redus, who is in her 30s, lived in a rental property approximately two miles from the refinery at the time of the 2022 Thanksgiving spent catalyst release. Shortly after the Thanksgiving release Ms. Redus began experiencing migraines and breathing difficulties that were so severe she now requires a CPAP machine. Ms. Redus’ minor son was also at home at the time of the release and was impacted by the incident.
Ms. Redus and her son were forced to move from their home in Martinez to Bay Point to escape the toxic conditions created by PBF Martinez.
“Contaminated property”
Ms. Cobbs lives about 2 miles from the refinery was present for the November 2022 spent catalyst discharge, as well as the July, October, and December 2023 events. For Ms. Cobbs, the repeated exposure has led to her developing lung cysts, and she has other significant breathing problems. The spent catalyst, coke dust, and noxious gases from the refinery have also contaminated her property, and decreased the value of her home.
Timeline of Chemical Releases at Martinez Refining Company
The Martinez Refining Company has a history of discharging toxic chemicals into the neighborhoods surrounding its refinery. These releases resulted in health issues for residents and environmental degradation, contaminating the soil and water in the area.
Over the past year and a half, the Martinez Refining Company has dumped chemicals into the local environment on at least four specific dates. Residents living near the refinery may have had immediate health reactions like trouble breathing, nausea, fatigue, brain fog, and lung damage from inhaling the heavy metals and other chemicals in the discharge. The long-term effects of this exposure are still unknown, but affected individuals could be at a higher risk of developing cancer, organ damage, birth defects and other genetic problems.
The following is the timeline for the four chemical releases:
November 2022 - Spent Catalyst Release
- Timeframe: Six hours starting at approximately 8:30 p.m. on November 24, 2022
- Response failure: Martinez Refining did not alert authorities or the public.
- Incident: A catastrophic equipment failure caused the release of 24 tons of spent catalyst dust. This event was classified as a major chemical accident.
- Aftermath: Visible dust in Martinez contained high levels of heavy metals.
July 2023 - Coke Dust Release
- Timeframe: Approximately 8:30 a.m. on July 11, 2023
- Delayed Report: Not reported for almost two hours
- Aftermath: Coke dust was visible in surrounding neighborhoods.
- Health effects: Residents reported exposure symptoms.
October 2023 - Coke Dust Release
- Timeframe: Approximately 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. on October 6, 2023
- Aftermath: Coke dust was visible in surrounding neighborhoods.
- Health effects: Residents reported exposure symptoms.
December 2023 - Sulfur Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide Release
- Timeframe: Began at approximately 9 a.m. on December 15, 2023
- Delayed Report: Not reported for over an hour.
- Aftermath: 7.75 tons of sulfur dioxide were released. This significant flaring event exposed residents to noxious gases.
- Health effects: Level 2 indicates risk to those with breathing issues.
Health Effects of the Toxic Chemicals Released
Spent Catalyst:
- Exposure may cause an allergic skin reaction.
- It is toxic if inhaled, triggering allergy or asthma symptoms.
- It is suspected of causing genetic defects and cancer.
- It is suspected of damaging fertility or harming unborn children.
- It causes organ damage—particularly to the lungs and respiratory system—with prolonged or repeated exposure.
Coke Dust:
- Once inhaled, particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects.
Sulfur Dioxide:
- It is toxic if inhaled.
- If it comes in contact with the eyes, adverse symptoms may include pain, watering, and redness.
- If it comes in contact with the skin, adverse symptoms include pain, irritation, redness, and blistering.
Hydrogen Sulfate:
- Exposure may cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system.
- It can also cause apnea, coma, convulsions, dizziness, headache, weakness, irritability, insomnia, and upset stomach.
“The toxic dust from the refinery has devastated my health,” one Martinez resident said. “I’m now on oxygen 24/7. This lawsuit is about seeking justice and ensuring no one else suffers as I have.”
“The refinery’s negligence has made daily life a struggle,” another resident stated. “We need this lawsuit to bring accountability and change.”
Do I Qualify for Compensation from Martinez Refining Company?
If you or a loved one were in Martinez during the time of the refinery’s chemical dumps and developed health problems, you may be eligible to sue. You may also seek compensation if your property was damaged.
To qualify for compensation from Martinez Refining, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- You were living or working near the refinery at the time of one of the releases and have experienced new or worsening health symptoms after one of the releases
- You owned property in the area damaged by at least one of the releases.
How to File a Lawsuit Against Martinez Refining Company
If you suffered harm from any of Martinez Refining Company’s chemical releases, gather any available evidence, like medical records and water quality reports. Additionally, consult with the lawyers at Cutter Law. We can analyze your case, determine your eligibility, investigate, and prepare the necessary documents to file your lawsuit.
When a company is negligent and causes harm to others, it is liable for any resulting damages. Contact Cutter Law for a free case review to start building your case.
“We are committed to holding the PBF Martinez Refinery accountable for its repeated toxic releases. Our goal is to achieve not only compensation for the victims but also meaningful changes in refinery operations to prevent future harm.”
401 Watt Avenue Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95864
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Protect the Martinez Community and Contact Cutter Law Today
At Cutter Law, we have extensive experience fighting large corporations and recovering significant compensation for our clients in both individual lawsuits and major class actions. We’re ready to hold Martinez Refining Company accountable for the persistent environmental violations that have harmed local residents. Not only do we seek to make the community whole, but we also aim to prevent future chemical dumps.
As a small, family-owned personal injury law firm, we understand how one person’s serious injuries can affect the entire family. Our attorneys aim to safeguard community health, environmental integrity, and corporate responsibility, and we’re ready to fight for the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.
Contact Cutter Law today for a free case evaluation with no obligation.
News Coverage
- A Rude Awakening, 94.1 KPFA (November 29, 2024).
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