Provost Umphrey attorney wins settlement in Georgia-Pacific case

After four weeks of trial in Georgia, a Beaumont attorney has won a settlement for a man left disabled by an industrial accident.

Jane Swearingen Leger of Provost Umphrey Law Firm in Beaumont obtained a significant confidential settlement on behalf of Traci Evans in regards to a boiler explosion that occurred in June 2006 at Georgia-Pacific’s paper mill in Cedar Springs, Ga.

The plaintiff, Traci Evans, is the sister, guardian and conservator for her brother, a paper mill maintenance worker who was injured in the industrial boiler explosion. Evans’ brother, 36 at the time he was burned, suffered permanently disabling burns on over 68 percent of his body. He spent six months in a medically induced coma and has had over 80 surgeries as a result of the explosion, according to a press release from the firm.

Evans brought the suit against the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co., claiming Hartford was liable for her brother’s injuries because Hartford allegedly failed to conduct a thorough state safety inspection of the boiler and failed require safety components to be repaired before the boiler was returned to service.

Additionally, it was alleged that Hartford conspired with Georgia-Pacific to produce fake insurance policies in order to secure safety inspection certificates to satisfy the Georgia Boiler Safety Act, according to the press release.

After multiple postponements, the trial began for the third time on Feb. 7 and continued for four weeks, before the confidential settlement was reached.

The defendant’s in-house lawyer, who testified during trial, was so evasive in his answers the trial judge held him in contempt of court and sentenced him to 5 days in jail.. The company’s trial counsel was reprimanded by the judge twice during trial for violating the court’s orders and misrepresenting testimony to the court.

“We are incredibly pleased with the outcome of this case. Our client has received the compensation he deserves. This result demonstrates our dedication to our union clients, even in difficult, hard-fought cases,” Leger said.