Marathon Petroleum Refinery Fire Lawsuits: Technical and Legal Details

1. Class Action Lawsuit Structure and Claims

• Case Background:
  The August 2023 fire at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Garyville, Louisiana, resulted from a corroded naphtha storage tank that leaked for over 13 hours before ignition. The fire burned for more than three days, releasing hazardous chemicals, including naphtha and benzene, into the air. The incident prompted a mandatory evacuation for residents within a two-mile radius and led to widespread reports of respiratory and other health issues.
• Class Action Scope:
  The Louisiana refinery class action lawsuit, consolidated in May 2024 by Judge Darrel J. Papillion in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, seeks to represent approximately 16,000 residents potentially affected by the fire and chemical release. The complaint was amended in November 2024 to expand the class size and incorporate new evidence uncovered by independent investigations.
• Key Allegations:
  • Negligence in maintenance and emergency response.
  • Failure to notify and protect the surrounding community in a timely manner.
  • Downplaying the health and environmental consequences of the fire in communications with regulators and the public.
  • Exposure of residents to benzene at levels over 18 times the CDC’s acute exposure threshold.
  • Economic losses due to evacuation, business closures, and property devaluation.
• Relief Sought:
  Plaintiffs seek over $5 million in damages for health impacts, property loss, and economic disruption. The suit also demands injunctive relief, including improved emergency protocols, transparent air monitoring, and community notification systems.

2. Procedural Status and Legal Motions

• Case Filings:
  The lead case, Dixon v. Marathon Petroleum Company LP et al (Case No. 2:2023cv06312), was filed in October 2023. The defendants have filed motions to dismiss punitive damages claims, and the court has issued orders regarding case management and consolidation of related actions.
• Evidence and Discovery:
  The lawsuit draws heavily on a nine-month investigation by The Guardian and Forensic Architecture, which included analysis of 911 calls, police reports, witness photos, and fluid dynamics modeling. This evidence challenges Marathon’s claims of “no offsite impacts” and documents significant flaws in the emergency response.
• Defendant’s Position:
  Marathon Petroleum has moved to dismiss the updated complaint on procedural grounds, arguing that some claims were filed outside the statute of limitations. The company maintains that air monitoring showed no harmful pollutant levels beyond the facility’s fenceline, a claim disputed by plaintiffs and independent experts.

3. Environmental Justice Litigation in Cancer Alley

• Civil Rights Lawsuit:
  In parallel, a landmark civil rights lawsuit was revived by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in April 2025. This case, brought by groups such as Inclusive Louisiana, Mount Triumph Baptist Church, and RISE St. James, challenges decades of racially discriminatory land-use practices that have concentrated petrochemical facilities in majority-Black districts of St. James Parish. Plaintiffs seek a court-ordered moratorium on new petrochemical plant construction and expansion.
• Legal Precedent:
  The Fifth Circuit’s decision allows Louisiana Cancer Alley lawsuit plaintiffs to present evidence of a “longstanding pattern and practice of racially discriminatory land-use decisions,” linking modern pollution burdens to historical injustices. This case is expected to set significant precedent for environmental justice litigation nationwide.

4. Key Technical and Legal Findings

• Chemical Exposure:
  • Benzene levels during the fire were estimated at over 18 times the CDC’s acute exposure threshold for some residents.
  • Naphtha and other hydrocarbons released are known to cause neurological, respiratory, and carcinogenic effects.
• Community Impact:
  • Over 3,000 residents were evacuated.
  • Dozens sought hospital treatment for acute symptoms.
  • Economic losses include business interruptions and property devaluation.
• Class Action Consolidation:
  • Multiple lawsuits by property owners and residents have been consolidated into a single class action for judicial efficiency and to address common questions of law and fact.