MATAGORDA COUNTY, Texas – A worker reportedly injured in last week’s ammonia release at a chemical plant in Matagorda County has filed a lawsuit against the company.
Partner Mo Aziz of the law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner and attorneys Edward Keenan, George Hinkle along with Hilda Sibrian, of the Law Offices of Hilda L. Sibrian have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Luis Arturo Solano Aguilar, who was reportedly injured in the incident at the Roehm USA facility near Bay City on Mar. 7.
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The law firm says Aguilar was working as a contractor at the refinery when the release happened. They said Aguilar was exposed to harmful fumes and suffered serious injuries while attempting to escape.
The lawsuit names OQ Chemicals Corporation, said to be the owner of the refinery, as a defendant.
The lawsuit alleges OQ Chemicals breached their duty to exercise ordinary care to Aguilar. The alleged breach includes the following:
- Failing to properly inspect the Refinery
- Failing to properly monitor the Refinery
- Failing to supervise the Refinery
- Failing to implement proper polices, procedures, and/or rules to make the Refinery reasonably safe
- Failing to correct an unreasonably dangerous condition at the Refinery
- Failing to warn of a dangerous condition at the Refinery
- Violating industry regulations and standards
- Other acts or omissions deemed negligent
- Such negligence, either singularly or in combination, proximately caused Plaintiff’s resulting damages
The lawsuit alleges gross negligence and seeks punitive damages and compensation for physical and mental anguish, lost wages, medical expenses, as well as other damages.
A total of 10 workers were hospitalized after the incident. Authorities say the release happened due to a PSV valve failure in a brine cooler.