Asbestos supervisor sues Motiva after fire erupts, Brent Coon handling case

Asbestos supervisor sues Motiva after fire erupts, Brent Coon handling case

August 20, 2017, 11:44 pm
by David Yates

BEAUMONT – An asbestos supervisor is suing Motiva Enterprises for injuries he suffered after a fire erupted.

Through Beaumont attorney Brent Coon, Joshual McElroy filed his suit Aug. 8 in Jefferson County District Court. Greg Lucchesi is also named as a defendant.

According to the lawsuit, the fire occurred Aug. 3 at Motiva’s Port Arthur facility. McElroy was working as an asbestos supervisor for Excel Modular Scaffolding at the time.

He and his crew were charged with abating asbestos from a line 60 feet in the air. Two members were washing off the asbestos fibers in the area as McElroy began to descend when he heard a pop of fire igniting overhead and was thrown backward, violently striking “something” with the back of his neck.

“He looked upward to see his friend… engulfed in flames,” the suit states, adding the McElroy went back for his friend and helped him get to safety.

The suit contends Motiva may have failed to do a routine check for any gas leaks in the area.

McElroy claims he suffered injuries to his neck and now suffers from PTSD.

Seeking more than $75,000 in damages, he is suing for his past and future medical expenses, pain, impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement and lost earnings. Click to read the full story

search

our offices

  • Beaumont Office

    215 Orleans St.
    Beaumont, TX 77701

  • Houston Office

    300 Fannin St.
    Suite 300
    Houston, TX 77002

  • Burbank Office

    4111 W. Alameda Avenue
    Suite 611
    Burbank, California 91505

  • Denver Office

    3801 E. Florida Ave.
    Suite 905
    Denver, CO 80210-2500

  • Philadelphia Office

    1500 Walnut Street
    Suite 2000
    Philadelphia, PA 19102

FROM THE BLOG

Rideshare Accident Liability: Who Pays When an Uber or Lyft Driver Crashes?

Rideshare Accident Liability: Who Pays When an Uber or Lyft Driver Crashes? Rideshare accidents can turn your life upside down in an instant. Medical bills pile up, insurance companies start calling, and you are left wondering who is actually responsible for what happened. Uber and Lyft accidents are legally complex, involving multiple insurance policies, driver…

Common Causes of Refinery Explosions and How to Hold Companies Accountable

Refinery Explosions Are Increasing: What Workers and Families Need to Know Oil refinery accidents are becoming more frequent, more deadly, and more costly for the workers and families caught in their aftermath. Petroleum and petrochemical refineries are complex, high-pressure environments where a single equipment failure, procedural lapse, or ignored safety warning can trigger catastrophic explosions,…

Railroad Worker Rights: When FELA Claims Are Better Than Workers’ Compensation

You Were Hurt Working on the Railroad—And You’re Being Told to File Workers’ Comp If you were injured working along rail lines in Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio, or across freight corridors stretching through Harris and Tarrant Counties, you may have been told to file for workers’ compensation. While that sounds standard, railroad injury cases…