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Trial Starts Monday in Exploding Barbeque Propane Gas Tank Case against Shell Oil Company Gas Station in Woodland Hills, CA

Business Wire, May 18, 2003

Business Editors/Legal Writers

VAN NUYS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2003

Trial starts Monday, May 19, 2003 at 10:30 AM in Sondra J. Eddahbi's civil suit for negligence against Shell Oil Company (NYSE:SC) in Van Nuys Superior Court (East), 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA. Ms. Eddahbi suffered severe burns to her body when she attempted to light her propane-fueled barbeque on May 28, 2001. She seeks compensatory damages for her injuries. Equillon Enterprises LLC, Andre F. Van Der Valk, and Jalidat, Inc. dba Shell Carwash are also named as defendants. Ms. Eddahbi is represented by Browne Greene with Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, LLP and Terrence L. Butler with the Law Offices of Terrence L. Butler. Judge Richard Wolfe will preside over the matter, Eddahbi vs. Shell Oil Company, Case No. LC059591.

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On May 27, 2001, Sondra J. Eddahbi went to the Shell station located at 19706 Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills, CA. around 10:00 AM and had the station's attendant refill the propane tank that came with her barbeque. On May 28, 2001, which was Memorial Day, at approximately 5:00 PM, she attempted to light her barbeque grill, located on the patio of her home in Tarzana, CA. Upon striking the match near the grill, an explosion and fire occurred. Ms. Eddahbi was engulfed in flames and severely burned.

Ms. Eddhabi alleges that Defendants were negligent in supervising, training or instructing their employees in the process of transferring propane gas from the Shell station's larger propane gas tank into Plaintiff's smaller propane gas tank. She contends that Defendants overfilled the tank beyond the proper standard of filling, causing propane gas vapor to silently seep and create a dangerous condition. Hence, when Ms. Eddhabi attempted to light her barbecue, the tank exploded into a fireball at her feet, and she was severely burned.

"Sondra Eddahbi will endure a lifetime of pain and disfigurement from her burns," said Browne Greene, "because Shell Oil Company allegedly failed to train, supervise and control its employees in the proper way to safely transfer propane gas from one tank to another. They sent my client home with a propane gas tank that was overfilled and leaking with highly flammable propane gas. It only took the strike of a match to turn what should have been a memorable holiday into a nightmare that will last a lifetime. We will do what it takes to make sure that she has her day in court."

Added Browne Greene: "We see this lawsuit as sending a strong message to those who dispense propane gas to discourage this type of negligence in the future in the greater name of consumer safety, especially as the summer barbeque season is about to begin. And, we call upon our state lawmakers to enact legislation that will create strict guidelines to avoid propane gas leaks in the future."

Editor's Note:

Plaintiff is represented by Browne Greene with the Santa Monica, CA. law firm of Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, LLP (www.gbpwlaw.com); Tel: 310.576.1200; and Terrence L. Butler with the Law Offices Of Terrence L. Butler in Beverly Hills, CA.; Tel: 310.887.1800.

Defendants are represented by Adrienne R. Hahn with Bistline & Cohoon in Torrance, CA.; Tel: 310.378.6360.

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Trial Starts Monday in Exploding Barbeque Propane Gas Tank Case against Shell Oil Company Gas Station in Woodland Hills, CA

Business Wire, May 18, 2003

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