Two Kentucky residents have filed a lawsuit against a plant following a large explosion that resulted in widespread property damage and at least two deaths.
The Lawsuit
Edward Roberts and Ana Carolina Gomez Bridge filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Givaudan Flavors Corporation and its parent company, Givaudan U.S., alleging negligence in connection with the November 12 explosion at the company's plant.
The blast, which occurred in a cooking vessel, destroyed the facility, killed two workers and scattered debris into surrounding neighborhoods. Roberts and Gomez Bridge, who live in a home adjacent to the plant, claim the company failed to prevent the disaster.
"Givaudan failed miserably to operate their business responsibly, and the consequences were catastrophic," Tad Thomas, a lawyer representing the two residents, said in a statement this week.
Givaudan has acknowledged responsibility for damages to nearby homes following the explosion. During a community meeting last week, company president Ann Leonard indicated that the plant would likely be relocated and rebuilt in a different area.
Last week, the family of a plant worker killed in the explosion retained legal counsel and signaled plans to pursue a lawsuit. Separately, a food delivery driver who was nearby during the blast also filed suit against the company. Charles Fowler, a veteran of the Iraq war, claimed in the filing that the explosion exacerbated his post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Explosion
Earlier this month, the explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour resulted in the deaths of two workers and left 11 others injured. The blast also caused a partial collapse of the facility, which manufactures colorings for food and beverages.
The explosion shattered windows in dozens of homes near the plant with the force of the blast cracking drywall and knocking pictures off walls. At a community meeting, some residents told Givaudan officials that the noise from the explosion left their children deeply traumatized.
"We'll get to the bottom of it, make sure that we know all of the facts when the investigation is complete," Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear said following the explosion. "Then, if there are any lessons learned that we can take from this and provide to other companies that are out there, we should."
Residents reported hearing a deafening noise and seeing smoke following the afternoon explosion, according to 911 calls reviewed by The Associated Press.
In one 911 call, a woman described hearing "some sort of explosion" outside her home, adding, "It shook the house."
The lawsuit states that Edward Roberts was in the basement when the explosion shattered windows and damaged the home's foundation. Both Roberts and Gomez Bridge allege they have endured "physical pain and suffering," while Bridge has also experienced "severe emotional distress," requiring therapeutic care, according to the filing.
The lawsuit alleges that employees had previously warned Givaudan about the cooking vessel overheating, but the company ignored the concerns, failed to take corrective action and allowed operations to continue.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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