Orange County Railcar Chemical Leak
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On Thursday afternoon, a rail car at the Eagle Rail Site on Foreman Road conducted a controlled flaring operation that released ethyl acrylate and caused individuals in West Orange, Bridge City and Orangefield to shelter in place without air conditioning and blocking air from coming in for six hours. As a result of the chemical exposure, several people have already been sent to the hospital for treatment.
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BCA Hosting Town Hall Meetings - Get the help you need
Brent Coon and Associates will be holding a series of Town Hall Meetings at various local establishments to help residents get the answers and help they need. In addition to getting news updates from the legal teams initiating the investigations, there will also be medical professionals who can help victims get the treatment they need.
Our next Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for:
August 1, 2024 Bridge City Knights of Columbus 770 Ave A Bridge City, TX 12:30PM, 4PM, and 6PM
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FIRST LAWSUITS AND RESTAINING ORDERS FILED IN ORANGE COUNTY RAILCAR GAS LEAK
12:00PM CST - Friday July 19th, 2024 – This morning, Brent Coon & Associates law firm filed the first of a number of lawsuits emanating from the major gas leak in Orange County yesterday that sent dozens to hospital and thousands stranded away from their homes or worse in their homes with no air conditioning as part of a massive “shelter in place” notice from local government agencies dealing with the situation.
The firm has included a temporary restraining order (TRO) signed by District Court Judge Courtney Arkeen that prevents anyone from tampering with or destroying any evidence associated to the incident and provide access to professional inspections of the area and equipment involved for causation determinations.
“This is yet another in the continuing saga of highly volatile and carcinogenic (cancer causing) products being dumped, leaked, vented or spilled into our local environment. It happens with tragic regularity and goes unnoticed unless it results in a catastrophic situation where scores of people are rushed to the hospital or are ordered to stay inside homes with no air conditioning, often in 100 decree heat for hours or days at a time. Our firm has dealt with very similar situations hundreds of times in cases all over the country, and even recently in the area with the KCS toxic chemical derailment in Mauriceville just two years ago and the infamous TPC refinery explosion in Port Neches that resulted in the mandatory evacuation of over 25,000,” said Brent Coon, lead counsel and founder of Brent Coon & Associates.
This particular product is understood to be a form of methacrylic acid, a product commonly used in a number of industries affiliated with paints, plastics and other finished products.
“The product involved in this leak is known to be highly toxic and causes breathing problems, nose and eye irritation, and other adverse health effects, and is registered with the U.S. Government as a probable carcinogen, meaning that it can cause cancer. Numerous animal studies in the past with this product have confirmed those findings. Anyone exposed should at least go to a local physician for follow up and health monitoring,” said Mr. Coon.
While the leak was occurring at the Eagle Railcar Services facility on Foreman Road in Orange County, BCA is early into any investigation as to why the railcar leaked, who owned the railcar, why it was at Eagle Railcar Services, and how long the situation and been dire before the public was informed at any level to take precautions.
The case is filed in the 163rd District Court with Judge Rex Peverto – Cause No. 240272-C.
For more information about the lawsuits and claims being filed please contact Jay Jackson, Communications Director, Brent Coon & Associates.