RICHMOND,
Calif. — Hundreds of Richmond residents descended on a makeshift
Chevron Corp. claim center Friday with legal claims caused by a refinery fire that fouled the region's air for hours, sending more than 4,000 people to seek medical care for breathing problems and irritated eyes.
Thousands more submitted similar claims throughout the week by calling a special hotline Chevron established after Monday's explosion and fire at its Richmond refinery. The company said a total of about 3,800 people had submitted claims through Friday afternoon.
Most of the claims appear to be asking for modest amounts, reflecting the fact that there have been no reports of serious injury and nearly all seeking medical care were treated and released after spending a few hours in the hospital.
"It's not about the money," said Chanel Harris, who was seeking reimbursement for the cost of taking her three young children to the emergency room of the nearby Kaiser Hospital. "It's about holding Chevron accountable."
Harris spent about an hour in line and another 10 minutes talking to a claims adjuster inside the Nevin Community Center in Richmond. She said she won't know how much she's seeking until Kaiser sends it bill.
Harris and others with medical insurance who sought care immediately after the incident are expecting reimbursements for their deductibles, drugs and other expenses...
