James James, a resident of Harris County, Texas, has filed a lawsuit seeking over $1.9 million in damages against PCI Nitrogen, LLC and 3-J Ryan, Inc., alleging negligence and gross negligence after a catastrophic workplace accident. The complaint was filed on April 9, 2025, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas.
According to the petition, the incident occurred on November 12, 2024, at PCI Nitrogen's factory located at 2001 Jackson Road in Pasadena, Texas. James was performing his duties using a "come-a-long" to fit a rolled plate onto a furnace roof when the weld/lifting eye failed. This failure caused the chain to fall and strike him violently in the face, resulting in unconsciousness and severe injuries. James accuses PCI Nitrogen of multiple breaches of duty including failing to provide a safe working environment and adequate safety measures. The plaintiff asserts that these failures amount to negligence under Texas law as they were proximate causes of his injuries.
The lawsuit also implicates 3-J Ryan for owning or supervising the equipment involved in the incident. James alleges that both defendants committed acts of gross negligence by willfully disregarding safety protocols with conscious indifference to potential risks. Furthermore, he claims that Defendant 3-J knowingly engaged in conduct substantially certain to cause harm—a claim not covered by the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act due to its intentional nature.
In his plea for relief, James seeks compensation for past and future physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, bodily impairment and disfigurement among other damages. He is also pursuing punitive damages due to what he describes as grossly negligent behavior by both companies.
Representing James are attorneys Muhammad S. Aziz and George E. Hinkle II from Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner along with Joe I. Zaid from Joel Zaid & Associates. The case is being presided over by Judge Jarod Stirrup under Case ID: 2025-24957.