Update from the law firm of Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones :
The West City Council has approved a settlement of the lawsuit it filed against CF Industries, El Dorado Chemical Company, International Chemical Company and Adair Grain, Inc., manufacturers and suppliers of ammonium nitrate arising out of the fertilizer plant explosion that devastated the tiny central Texas community on April 17, 2013.
The massive blast killed fifteen people, injured many others and leveled parts of the town of West, Texas. The explosion damaged streets, water lines, sewer system and other City infrastructure.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of the City of West asserted these defendants were negligent in selling and/or distributing the involved agriculture grade ammonium nitrate, the defendants failed to properly warn of the dangers associated with the handling and storage of the product, and should have never sold the ammonium nitrate to West Fertilizer.
Defendants claim they did not cause harm to the City of West and that they were not responsible for the explosion.
While all other settlements in the West Explosion litigation have been confidential, the City of West is required by law to disclose the amount of the settlement when a proper request has been made for that information.
Having received such a request, the City of West can state that it has agreed to resolve its lawsuit against all defendants and will receive a total of $10,443,000 to compensate the City for damages not covered by insurance or grants from governmental agencies.
CF Industries will pay $6,400,000.00 to the City. El Dorado Chemical will pay $3,900,000.00. Adair Grain, Inc. will pay $143,000.00. International Chemical is included in the settlements with CF Industries and El Dorado Chemical.
This settlement was reached as trial was scheduled to begin on January 16, 2018. Steve Harrison, one of the lawyers representing the City of West and chairman of the plaintiffs’ executive committee in the West explosion litigation was pleased with the outcome for the City.
“The resolution brings to a conclusion more than four and a half years of litigation by the City against the fertilizer manufacturers,” Harrison said. “This is a very good outcome for the community and we could not be more pleased for the folks of West.”
Harrison estimated a jury trial would have lasted approximately eight weeks. Appeals for the jury trial could have taken as long as 3 to 4 years to be heard.
Original story:
WEST, Texas (AP) – The town of West, Texas, and several other plaintiffs have reached settlements and partial settlements of claims stemming from a deadly April 2013 explosion in the central Texas town.
Waco-based state District Judge Jim Meyer has canceled a trial set to begin Tuesday. The settlements are the latest among more than 200 claims filed in the aftermath of the West Fertilizer Co. blast that killed 15 people and left dozens injured.
Plaintiffs’ spokesman and Waco attorney Steve Harrison tells the Waco Tribune-Herald the city and a nursing home reached settlements with CF Industries but have unresolved claims against the other major defendant in the case, El Dorado Chemical Co.
Harrison says settlement terms are confidential.
Defendants either manufactured or sold fertilizer that caught fire and exploded. They’ve denied any wrongdoing.