$35,800,000 Settlement

Case Overview

Our client, a refinery worker, suffered catastrophic burn injuries in a flash fire. The incident was one of the most horrific workplace accidents our attorneys had ever encountered. Despite the severity of the case, many law firms had previously turned it down, believing that the company responsible could not be held accountable. Our team took on the challenge, fought relentlessly through appeals, and ultimately brought the case before the Texas Supreme Court.

Incident Details

The flash fire erupted while our client was performing refinery duties, causing devastating burns. Although the fire itself was catastrophic, our investigation uncovered that the flame-resistant (FR) suit our client was wearing significantly worsened the injuries. These suits are meant to protect workers in exactly this type of situation. However, our experts discovered that the garment had been overwashed and exposed to hydrocarbons, which caused it to behave like a wick—fueling the fire instead of resisting it.

Defective Protective Gear

Through extensive expert analysis, we found that:

• FR suits are subject to strict industry standards, including limits on the number of washes they can withstand before losing protective qualities;
• This particular suit failed to carry appropriate warnings regarding its lifespan and risks of overwashing;
• The lack of adequate safety labeling and oversight left workers unknowingly exposed to heightened danger.

Litigation Strategy

Our team pursued an aggressive legal strategy that involved:

• Hiring experts to testify about the defective FR suit;
• Forcing the company to produce internal documents through court intervention;
• Exposing a pattern of negligence at the highest levels of the company, including troubling history with the SEC and prior misconduct by its CEO;
• Challenging attempts by the defense to avoid accountability, ultimately prevailing at the Texas Supreme Court.

Result

Through relentless advocacy and detailed case development, our team secured a $35,800,000 settlement on behalf of our client. This result not only provided our client with the resources necessary to rebuild life after catastrophic injuries but also sent a powerful message to corporations that neglect worker safety: you will be held accountable.