A woman injured in a chemical blast that originated at the West Fertilizer Company, that killed 14 and injured over 160 in Waco, Texas on April 17, has filed the third lawsuit so far that names Adair Grain Inc. as responsible, as reported by KWTX-TV News 10, and several other media outlets.
B.B. and her husband R.B. filed their lawsuit in state district court via their attorney Jason A. Gibson.
The suit states that Adair Grain displayed “conscious indifference” toward local residents in the way it stored and handled toxic and dangerous materials. The suit further attests that the company was negligent in its safety policies, procedures, training, supervision, maintenance and repair.
The suit states, “Despite being in the business of storing and handling of highly volatile and toxic materials, Defendant's facility had not undergone a full safety inspection by regulators since 1985.”
As the explosion struck, B.B. was in a public park with friends. The unexpected blast caused B.B. to suffer with a broken jaw, loosened teeth, a perforated eardrum and hearing loss. Her cellular phone was located afterwards – approximately 150 feet away.
The “blast zone” area, as its been referred to by the press, includes B.B. and R.B.’s damaged home. Damages to their home are also noted in the suit.
The district clerk’s office has recorded three lawsuits so far in regards to the same incident.
The first suit was filed by attorney Paul A. Grinke and names Adair Grain and West Fertilizer as co-defendants. The plaintiffs are four separate insurance companies that have many policies set to protect L.S., DDS, Jerrel Bolton Chevrolet, Ace Auto Supply, Gerik's Olde Czech Bakery, Pescaia Family Trust, West Texas Welding Supply, West TV and Appliance, First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church as well as private parties. The suit seeks damages for “negligent acts and omissions (which) were the proximate cause of the explosion that resulted in damages to the plaintiffs, including the destruction (of) real and personal property and lost profit.”
Grinke said that the investigation has yet to yield a cause for the explosion. However, needless of this information, Grinke believes that Adair Grain, and its owners, are responsible as the explosion occurred on their property or property in their jurisdiction.
The second suit names the same co-defendants and was filed by A.J.G., a private individual. A.J.G. is seeking $500,000 to $1 million in damages. According to the suit, A.J.G. and her son, a juvenile, were injured in the blast. A.J.G. also contends that the whole of her possessions were destroyed in her apartment due to the explosion. Tyler-based attorney Randell C. Roberts represents A.J.G..
Grinke commented, “But the lawsuit is not the real story. The real story is the community and how it has come together and how they are working to rebuild.”
If you have been physically injured due to the negligence of another party you have grounds for a lawsuit. Don’t delay, contact a personal injury lawyer today and sue for your damages!