Landmark $82.5 Million Verdict Awarded for Death of Man Killed in Natural Gas Explosion

A record setting $82.5 million dollar verdict was awarded last week in connection with the death of Joshua Wade Petrie, 27. On May 25, 2007, in his attempt to start a hot oil heater, it exploded. A day later the man died, leaving behind a widow, Candee Petrie, and three minor children.

According to the June 11 PR Newswire press release, Houston explosion attorney Rob Ammons was quoted as saying: “In the wake of two recent Texas natural gas line explosions and the spill in the Gulf, I believe people are sick and tired of the mess. When companies prioritize profits over responsibility, safety and respect for the environment, I think juries are going to push back in the only way they can — by awarding precedent-setting verdicts for hard working claimants.”

Rob Ammons and Bennett Midlo of the Houston-based Ammons Law Firm, Petrie’s attorneys, argued the natural gas processing plant and its equipment were negligently refurbished.

“Hanover Compression sold the gas processing plant in Hood County to Quicksilver Resources in March of 2005,” Ammons was quoted as saying. “Hanover was supposed to fully refurbish the plant and the hot oil heater. Hanover failed to refurbish and upgrade the heater to the applicable current industry standards and that is what caused the explosion.”

Rob Ammons’ law practice, The Ammons Law Firm , is located in Houston, Texas. The Ammons Law Firm practice focuses exclusively on personal injury law, handling cases that include tire defects, oil rig explosions, truck accidents, and plant explosions.