Texas Jury Awards 20 Million in Pipeline Explosion

A Texas jury has awarded $20 million to the family of one man who was killed and a pair of men who were severely injured following a natural gas pipeline explosion while performing demolition work.

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The industrial accident lawsuit was filed by Genaro Castillo and Luis Moreno, and the family of Meliton Lerma, who were caught in a natural gas explosion at a Hilcorp Energy gas plant outside of Vanderbilt two years ago. (WCxKit)

The pipeline explosion took place when the men, employed by A&R Demolition to work on an abandoned part of the facility, struck a pocket of natural volatile hydrocarbons while using a cutting torch. The men worked for RCS Demolition, which was sub contracted the job by A&R.

Lerma died after receiving burns to half of his body. Moreno received second- and third-degree burns over close to 60% of his body, and Castillo had burns covering 10% of his body.

According to the plaintiffs, they were not properly warned of the danger of fire and explosion, and during discovery, Hilcorp officials contend that the pipes in that portion of the facility were never properly vented or purged prior to the demolition project. However, A&R and Hilcorp stated that they told the plaintiffs’ employer, RCS, that there was to be no fire used on the job.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs noted that A&R’s own employees also used cutting torches on the job. (WCxKit)

The HarrisCounty jury found both A&R and Hilcorp negligent and awarded the men and their families the payout. However the jury assigned a small portion of the liability to RCS and the plaintiffs themselves.

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Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing.
Contact: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.

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