A Texas resident is taking legal action against a prominent terminal facility operator, accusing the company of negligence and premises liability after suffering severe chemical burns while working at their site. Robert Wayne Guillory filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, on April 24, 2025, against Odfjell Terminals (Houston) Inc., alleging that the company's failure to provide adequate safety measures led to his injuries.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on July 13, 2023, when Guillory was hired by SDM Construction Enterprises — The Core Group to perform interior painting work inside a chemical storage tank at Odfjell's Seabrook terminal facility. According to the petition, Guillory was only provided with a half-faced respirator mask and was not informed about the hazardous chemical contents of the paint product he was using. The plaintiff claims that Odfjell failed to provide adequate warnings or safety instructions and did not require appropriate personal protective equipment for handling chemicals present at the job site.
Guillory began experiencing a burning sensation on his skin during the work but received no assistance or disclosure about the harmful properties of the paint from any safety supervisor or representative from Odfjell. As a result of this exposure, he sustained chemical burns that worsened over time, causing significant pain and impairment. Despite his complaints and visible signs of injury, no emergency medical assistance was provided by Odfjell's agents or employees. Guillory eventually sought medical treatment independently when his condition deteriorated further.
The plaintiff's legal team argues that Odfjell breached its duty to maintain a safe work environment by failing to warn about known hazards and providing inadequate personal protective equipment. They assert that these failures constitute negligence and premises liability under Texas law. "Defendant Odfjell’s conduct demonstrates not only an attitude of conscious indifference to the rights, safety, and welfare of others but also shows Defendant Odfjell’s actual and subjective awareness of the dangers," states the petition.
Guillory seeks monetary relief exceeding $250,000 but not more than $1 million for damages including physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, past and future medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and punitive damages due to what he describes as "conscious indifference" by Odfjell. He has also requested a jury trial for this case.
Representing Robert Wayne Guillory is M. Paul Skrabanek from Pierce Skrabanek PLLC in Houston. The case is presided over by Judge Wanda Chambers in Harris County's 152nd Judicial District Court under Case ID 2025-28739.