West, Texas Receives $10 Million in Fertilizer Plant Explosion Lawsuit
The Central Texas town of West has accepted a $10.44 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit dealing with a plant explosion that left more than a dozen dead and hundreds wounded.
Details of the West Fertilizer Plant Explosion
The 2013 explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Co. north of Waco. The blast resulted in the deaths of 12 emergency responders and three members of the public. An additional 260 people were injured.
The blast destroyed the fertilizer facility as well as 500 homes and damaged streets, water lines, sewer systems, and other integral parts of the city’s infrastructure. The explosion left behind a crater that was 93 feet wide and 12 feet deep.
The resulting lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of the city, claimed the defendants were negligent in selling and/or distributing the ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer used by the plant, that they failed to properly warn of the dangers associated with handling and storage of the product, and that the product should have never been sold to West Fertilizer.
Breakdown of the West Fertilizer Settlement
The settlement marks the end of more than 4 years of litigation, and provides funds for damages not covered by insurance or grants from state and federal agencies.
The city of West has disclosed the amount and details of the settlement as required by law. Payments are as follows:
- CF Industries will pay $6.4 million
- El Dorado Chemical will pay $3.9 million
- Adair Grain Inc. will pay $143,000
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