MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

Families Sue Over Atchison Grain Elevator Blast

By David Meyer

08/29/2012

(KAIR/AP) -- Families of four of the six people who died in an October 2011 explosion at the Bartlett Grain Elevator in Atchison have filed wrongful-death lawsuits against some the elevator's employees.

The lawsuits were filed Monday by families of the Bartlett employees in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri.

The cases were brought on behalf of Chad Roberts, Ryan Federinko, Curtis Field and John Burke.

Two other workers killed in the explosion, grain inspectors Travis Keil and Darrek Klahr, were not named.

The families contend in the lawsuits that the defendants, including now then Bartlett Senior Vice President Bob Knief acted “negligently, carelessly and without regard” for the safety and health of the workers who were killed.

The suits also allege that elevator was at or near capacity at the time of the explosion and that daily train transfers were required to keep the elevator operating.

The cases further allege, the elevator had no emergency action plan or adequate alarm system and workers were not properly trained to get rid of the combustible dust that led to the explosion.

It also alleges operation continued “knowing that inspection maintenance and lubrication of facilities was not occurring.”

The attorney for Federinko and Roberts, Ed Dougherty, is requesting a jury trial on the matters.

Investigators determined the explosion was an accident but federal safety officials accused Bartlett of willfully ignoring workplace rules. OSHA Officials proposed $406,000 in fines against Bartlett.

The Kansas City Star reports the company has vowed to fight the fines. It issued a statement Tuesday saying employees acted appropriately and reasonably before the explosion.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.