(Houston, TX) Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner Partner Benny Agosto, Jr., associate attorney Lena Laurenzo, associate attorney Ben Agosto III along with co-counsel attorney Mario A. Rodriguez have filed an Original Petition and Application for Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction lawsuit in Harris County, Texas against LyondellBasell Acetyls, LLC, Lyondell Chemical Company and Equistar Chemicals, LP on behalf of Bryant Hinojosa who was injured in a chemical gas leak while working at the LyondellBasell Complex in La Porte, Texas on July 27, 2021.
On the date of the chemical gas leak, LyondellBasell became aware of a leak in the Acetyls Unit and called a company that specializes in sealing and repairing industrial leaks. After the company recommended that LyondellBasell have the leak repaired, Lyondell chose not to have the company repair the leak at that time and instead called other contractors. Later, that same evening, as Mr. Hinojosa was working in and near the Acetyls Unit, over 100,000 pounds of a mixture of various harmful chemicals including catalyst, acetic acid, methyl iodide, and hydrogen iodide was suddenly released into the LyondellBasell La Porte Complex.
As a result of the incident, Mr. Hinojosa was exposed to harmful acid and had to flee for his life, during which he sustained back and knee injuries all the while choking on the chemical fumes. Also, as a result of this incident, two people also died and over forty individuals required medical care or hospitalization.
Mr. Hinojosa’s Original Petition is seeking aggregate monetary relief over $1,00,000.00 for negligence and gross negligence as well as a Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction to allow an investigation and preserve the relevant evidence. “Once again we see how the lives of workers are put at risk by the management at the area chemical plants. The acid release was definitely preventable. Instead, we are filing suit because workers’ safety was ignored.” said Mr. Hinojosa’s attorney Benny Agosto Jr.
Over the last few years, in Texas alone, LyondellBasell has engaged in a pattern of unsafe, hazardous practices that have resulted in numerous injuries. Mr. Hinojosa’s injuries are just some of the many injuries that occurred during this event on July 27th.
For questions regarding the lawsuit or interview requests, please contact Geoffrey Adkinson at [email protected] or 713-222-7211, or Benny Agosto, Jr. at [email protected].