HOUSTON — The supplier, manufacturer and maintenance companies for a Houston propylene tank system are facing a suit over a January 2020 leak that caused an explosion.
Alex Tran, Anhtho Vo and Steven Vo filed a complaint Aug. 18 in Harris County District Court against KMHJ LTD, Western International Gas & Cylinders Inc., Matheson Tri-Gas Inc., 3M Company and others alleging negligence and other claims.
According to the plaintiffs' complaint, Watson Valve Services Inc., and Watson Grinding and Manufacturing had a facility located on KMHJ's property on Gessner Road in Houston which contained a propylene storage tank. They allege the defendants' negligence for a "massive explosion" that took place on January 24, 2020, that was caused by loss of propylene from the tank. The plaintiffs further allege that Western/Matheson were responsible for the annual safety and inspection of the 2000-gallon tank involved in the explosion and that they had delivered 1,067 gallons of propylene to the tank on Jan. 20, 2020, and filled it to 85% capacity.
The plaintiffs allege that prior to filling the tank, the tank level had dropped to 30% which should have been a "warning signal" of the leak. They also allege that the defendants failed to implement a number of safeguards that would have prevented the uncontrolled and unregulated leak and that the design and manufacturing of the tank was also defective. The plaintiffs claim they have suffered pain, mental anguish, property damage and incurred medical expenses as a result of the explosion.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief between $200,000 and $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by L. Lee Thweatt and Joseph Terry of Terry & Thweatt PC in Houston and Anna Kamins of The Kamins Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-51511