Hickman v. Exxon Mobil Corp.

This is a tort suit wherein the plaintiffs seek to recover damages for the decedent's lung cancer and death allegedly caused in total or in part by his exposure to radioactive dust from cleaning oilfield pipes. A motion for summary judgment was granted in favor of the defendants dismissing the plaintiffs' claims with prejudice due to a lack of proof of medical causation because of the fact that the decedent was a lifelong smoker. The plaintiffs appeal the granting of the motion for summary judgment. Because there are genuine issues of material fact, the judgment of the district court is…