ExxonMobil alleged that seven insurers failed to cover it against legal claims after two former contractors sued the petroleum giant, contending that exposure to a chemical in oil caused their cancer.

Texas-based ExxonMobil alleged in a 30-page complaint filed in New Jersey state court Friday that Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co., Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest and other insurers reneged on their contracts to cover the oil company's liabilities if it is sued over bodily injury claims. The suit was removed to New Jersey federal court later that day.

In the two underlying lawsuits, two former employees of Island Transportation Corp., a company contracted by ExxonMobil, claimed that they got cancer from benzene, a chemical used to make petroleum. ExxonMobil stated that the insurance companies should cover the claims of the two workers.

"ExxonMobil now seeks damages for breach of the insurance contracts sold by the defendant insurance companies and a judicial declaration from this court that each defendant insurance company has a duty to ExxonMobil for defense cost coverage and potential indemnity obligations arising from the underlying actions," the company said in its complaint, in which it is seeking declaratory judgments.

The first underlying suit was filed in 2022 by Peter Singh in New Jersey state court. Singh alleged that from the mid-1990s to 2020, he transported ExxonMobil petroleum to various gas stations.  During this time, he claimed he was repeatedly exposed to benzene, which caused his cancer.

In February 2024, Harrington Watt filed a similar lawsuit in New York state court, alleging that from 1985 to 2002, he was repeatedly exposed to benzene while transporting petroleum made and sold by ExxonMobil to fueling stations.

Both lawsuits are still pending.

In the meantime, ExxonMobil had entered into insurance contracts to cover bodily injury lawsuits with Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co., Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest, Stonington Insurance Co., Illinois National Insurance Co., Zurich American Insurance Co., National Interstate Insurance Co. and National Interstate Insurance Co. of Hawaii Inc.

Those insurers should cover insurance claims related to bodily injury and property damage, according to ExxonMobil's lawsuit. However, the companies denied the oil company's insurance claims.

These denials, ExxonMobil alleged, constitute a breach of contract, and it wants the court to determine that the insurers are obligated to cover the bodily injury claims from Watts and Singh.

"As a result of the defendant insurance companies' willful breaches of their implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing with ExxonMobil, ExxonMobil has sustained and may in the future sustain damages," the oil company said in its complaint.

ExxonMobil is seeking compensatory damages, direct and consequential damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorney fees and costs.

Attorneys for ExxonMobil, Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. and Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest didn't immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday.

Stonington Insurance Co., Illinois National Insurance Co., Zurich American Insurance Co., National Interstate Insurance Co. and National Interstate Insurance Co. of Hawaii Inc. didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

ExxonMobil is represented by Pamela D. Hans, John P. Lacey Jr., Jorge R. Aviles and Jamie L. O'Neill of Anderson Kill PC.

Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. and Hartford Insurance Co. of the Midwest are represented by Frances A. Lettieri and Louis H. Kozloff of Kennedys CMK LLP.

Counsel information for the other insurance companies wasn't immediately available.

The case is ExxonMobil Corp. v. Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. et al., case number 3:25-cv-17591, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.