Workers’ Injury: Big Verdict in Plant Explosion
Workers’ Injuries: Man wins $5.71 million dollar verdict for injuries sustained as a result of an explosion at employer power plant. The jury found his employer liable for deliberately intending the worker’s injuries to occur.
Evidence indicated that the employer had experienced a similar explosion at another power plant approximately 15 months earlier and then failed to take any steps to correct the problem at the plant where the worker/plaintiff was injured.
Numerous experts testified at trial relating that the explosion was caused by the dangerous conditions on a hydrogen tank at the facility and that the employer had knowledge of these conditions as evidenced by a series of fires and explosions in the hydrogen systems.
The jury awarded a $1.571 million verdict to the worker and $100,000 to his wife (see grazianandvolpe.com blog August 13, 2011, Personal Injury: Let Me Count Thy Injuries on loss of consortium). The additional $4 million in punitive damages was a shot across the bow for any company that chooses to disregard its safety rules endangering its employees and the general public.
As experienced personal injury lawyers of over 25 years, Grazian and Volpe endeavors not only to advocate for our clients when they have been injured but also to educate them on how personal injuries and workers’ injuries may be avoided through knowledge of safety laws and hazards. Please follow us on our blog, Grazian and Volpe at LinkedIn and FaceBook, GrazianTalksLaw on Twitter and the first Tuesday of every month on WCIU, You and Me in the Mornings.
