Crane Collapse Lawsuit Filed Over Death of Two Workers in Texas

The families of two refinery workers killed a year ago in a Texas crane collapse have filed wrongful death lawsuits against a number of companies involved in the accident.

The collapse of a 30-story tall construction crane at the Lydonell Basell refinery in Houston on July 18, 2008, killed four workers and injured seven others. Last Friday, the families of Daniel Johnson, Jr. and Marion Hubert Odom III filed lawsuits asserting claims for gross negligence, negligence and product liability, according to a report in the Southeast Texas Record.

The crane collapse lawsuits were filed in Texas state court in Jefferson County against Houston Refining, Wyatt Field Service Company, Kempco Inspection Services, All Test and Inspection, Cranesmart Systems, Cranesmart America and Deep South Crane and Rigging.

Did You Know?

AT&T Data Breach Impacts Millions of Customers

More than 73 million customers of AT&T may have had their names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and other information released on the dark web due to a massive AT&T data breach. Lawsuits are being pursued to obtain financial compensation.

Learn More

The plaintiffs allege that the crane accident occurred because the boom, which is capable of lifting more than one million pounds, was raised too high. This caused the structure to topple over backwards and collapse.

The deaths came in the midst of a high-profile year for crane accidents nationwide. In New York City in March and May of 2008, deadly crane accidents killed a total of nine people and injured 28 others. Though there were no fatalities, another crane collapse at the Wyoming Black Thunder mine seriously injured two workers in May 2008 as well.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that up to 82 people are killed every year due to crane accidents or collapses, yet most do not get extensive media coverage. OSHA has been working on a new Cranes and Derrick rule since 2007.

But the deaths are not unusual, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which estimates that up to 82 people are killed every year in crane accidents, however most do not get extensive media coverage. OSHA has been working on new Crane and Derrick safety requirements since 2007, which would provde additional protection for workers from the hazards associated with certain construction activities.

0 Comments

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Suboxone MDL Judge Appoints Attorneys to Leadership Development Committee
Suboxone MDL Judge Appoints Attorneys to Leadership Development Committee (Posted 3 days ago)

A federal judge has appointed five attorneys to serve on a Suboxone Leadership Development Committee, with the goal of using the mass tort to provide experience to younger attorneys on how to navigate a multidistrict litigation.