Day after explosion at refinery, worker sues ExxonMobil

One day after the April 17 explosion at the Beaumont ExxonMobil plant, Salvador Martinez Jr. has filed suit against the oil refiner. 

The suit was filed April 18 in Jefferson County District Court.

According to the lawsuit, on April 17 Martinez was a contract employee working at ExxonMobil.

“Upon information and belief, despite having been issued a ‘hot work permit’ by defendants, a fire and/or explosion occurred, causing one fatality and numerous serious injuries, including injuries to plaintiff that … required him to be life-flighted to UTMB … where he continue(s) to undergo medial and surgical care,” the suit states.

The suit accuses ExxonMobil of negligence but fails to list a specific act.

According to a report in The Examiner, 12 workers at ExxonMobil’s Beaumont plant were injured when an explosion rocked the facility about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 17.

Beaumont Fire Department spokesman Brad Penisson said three of the 12 workers were critically injured and sustained severe burns as a result of the fire. All were transported to local hospitals by ambulance, according to the report.

“The cause is under investigation, but it was a processing area that was down for maintenance and it was contained quickly and has been extinguished,” said ExxonMobil spokeswoman Kathleen Jackson.

Plaintiff Salvador Martinez is seeking a judgment within the jurisdictional limits of the court, plus court costs.

Beaumont attorney Glen Morgan of Reaud, Morgan & Quinn represents the plaintiff.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. D194-255