Jury awards family of man who died in 2007 Texas gas plant blast $82.5M

Houston jury awards $82M in 2007 gas blast death

HOUSTON — Lawyers say a Texas jury has awarded $82.5 million in damages to the family of a man who died in a 2007 explosion at a natural gas processing plant in Hood County.

Ammons Law Firm says Houston-based Hanover Compressions L.P., which has since been renamed Exterran Energy Solutions L.P., constructed, engineered and installed the natural gas processing plant.

The law firm said in a Thursday news release that the jury found the company grossly negligent in the death of 27-year-old Joshua Wade Petrie, an employee of Fort Worth-based Quicksilver.

Exterran declined comment Thursday.

Attorney Rob Ammons says a furnace exploded at the plant due to a lack of safety devices.

The jury Monday decided that Hanover was 90 percent responsible. Quicksilver was cited for 10 percent responsibility.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

HOUSTON (AP) — Lawyers say a Texas jury has awarded $82.5 million in damages to the family of a man who died in a 2007 explosion at a natural gas processing plant in Hood County.

Ammons Law Firm says Houston-based Hanover Compressions L.P., which has since been renamed Exterran Energy Solutions L.P., constructed, engineered and installed the natural gas processing plant.

The law firm said in a Thursday news release that the jury found the company grossly negligent in the death of 27-year-old Joshua Wade Petrie, an employee of Fort Worth-based Quicksilver.

An Exterran spokeswoman has declined comment.

The jury Monday decided that Hanover was 90 percent responsible. Quicksilver was cited for 10 percent responsibility.