A pipeline worker injured in an explosion on County Road 310 has filed suit against Kinder Morgan, Inc., Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LLC, and Kinder Morgan Tejas Pipeline LLC.
On April 22, one crew member was killed and two more injured while working on a pipeline south of Edna off of FM 1822. One person was declared dead at the scene, and two were taken to hospitals for treatment.
The Ammons Law Firm said in a press release that their client Orlando Cantu sustained serious injuries while working on the pipeline, which they claim could have been prevented and were the result of negligence on the part of Kinder Morgan.
“According to the petition, Cantu was injured while performing work on a Kinder Morgan pipeline in Jackson County,” the statement read. “The lawsuit alleges that an unreasonably dangerous condition existed on the premises, including but not limited to the pipeline, and posed an unreasonable risk of harm.”
“The petition further alleges that Kinder Morgan knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of the unreasonably dangerous condition and failed to exercise ordinary care to reduce or eliminate the risk to Cantu.
“The lawsuit also alleges that Kinder Morgan’s acts and omissions constituted gross negligence because they involved an extreme degree of risk and were undertaken with actual, subjective awareness of the risk, but with conscious indifference to the rights, safety and welfare of others, including Cantu.”
The suit seeks damages for medical expenses, disfigurement, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, physical pain, mental distress and anguish, as well as court costs and exemplary damages.
Cantu also filed to have the scene preserved until an inspection could be performed, and was granted a Temporary Restraining Order, to which Kinder Morgan agreed, preventing cleanup or alteration of the site and a 100 foot radius.
“Pipeline operators have a responsibility to protect workers from explosive hazards before work begins, not after a catastrophic failure occurs,” said Lead attorney Rob Ammons said. “This lawsuit seeks accountability for Mr. Cantu and answers about how this explosion happened and why it was not prevented.”
Orlando Cantu v. Kinder Morgan, Inc., Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LLC, and Kinder Morgan Tejas Pipeline LLC is being heard in the in the Harris County’s 164th Judicial District Cause No. 202627731.
