HOUSTON — A pipe fitter who suffered burns after a pipe ignited at a crude oil terminal is claiming negligence.
Michael Bertrand filed a complaint Nov. 2 in Harris County District Court against Cleveland Integrity Services Inc., National Trench Safety LLC and Admiral Field Servcies LLC alleging negligence.
Bertrand was working as a pipe fitter for a contractor at the Sunoco Logistics crude oil terminal in Nederland as part of a "central manifold expansion" construction project on Aug. 17, 2021, according to his complaint. He alleges that as he was on top of scaffolding and using grinding tools to fit pipe together, that suddenly and without warning, hydrocarbons ignited in the pipe which caused a blast that knocked him backward and off of he scaffolding.
Bertrand claims as a result of the blast, he suffered burns and that the defendants failed to correctly and safely install the isolation tools or install ventilation pipes, hoses and gauges and deviated from "the engineered installation process" for the tools. He also claims the defendants failed to properly fix or warn of the hazard, did not properly train or supervise those working on the job site and failed to stop "hot work" before leaving the isolation tools.
Bertrand seeks monetary relief of more than $25 million, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by Benny Agosto, Jr., Ben Agosto, III and Barney Dill of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-72039