SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

In April, the Record reported that several workers, who are seeking damages in excess of $1 million, filed suit against ExxonMobil, claiming they were injured in a fire at the area facility.

Court records show an additional plaintiff and new co-counsel have joined the litigation.

Clairissa Larson, representing the estate of Dustin Creekmore and as next of friend of Johnse Larson Creekmore, joined the suit as a plaintiff and hired Beaumont attorney Jason Cansler to represent her.

On Aug. 14, a notice of enrollment as co-counsel was filed, showing that attorney Glen Morgan of Reaud, Morgan & Quinn is now also representing Larson.

Local media reported that Dustin Creekmore died on April 27 from the injuries he sustained in the fire.

Creekmore and a group of injured workers -- Christopher Smith, Ty Smith, Chad McDonald, Eduardo Pena, Alexxus Humphrey, Joshua Bordelon and Shedrick Nolen -- had filed suit April 25 in Jefferson County District Court. They are represented by Beaumont attorney Walter Umphrey of Provost Umphrey.

Larson joined the suit after Creekmore died.

According to the lawsuit, on April 17 the plaintiffs were contracted employees working at the ExxonMobil facility in Beaumont when a fire broke out in a heat exchanger unit.

The fire erupted from the unit, causing serious injuries to all the plaintiffs, the suit states.

The suit further alleges ExxonMobil negligently and carelessly failed to properly test and monitor the unit and warn them of the dangerous condition.

The plaintiffs are suing for their alleged past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, pain, impairment, disfigurement and lost wages.

Court records show one day after the fire, Morgan filed a lawsuit on behalf of Salvador Martinez Jr., a contract employee also working at ExxonMobil at the time of the fire. Morgan filed Martinez’s suit on April 18 in Jefferson County District Court (Case No. D194-255).

Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. E194-278