Result

Refinery Steam Explosion | $6.75 Million Settlement

What Happened

Our client was performing maintenance work at a Florida oil refinery when an ordinary thunderstorm set the stage for a catastrophic failure.

When the storm knocked the plant offline, the Houston-based company that owned and operated the facility rushed to bring it back online, but they did it wrong.

Due to electronic and pressure-control errors during startup, steam began to build in the water lines. The pressure went unnoticed until a pipe finally ruptured, releasing a surge of boiling water and steam that flooded the work area.

Our client was caught in the chaos and fell into the scalding pool, suffering devastating burns and permanent injuries that changed the course of his life.

How We Fought for Him

From the start, the defendant tried to evade responsibility. They claimed our client’s injuries were barred by workers’ compensation, arguing that he was covered by an employer that had immunity under Florida law.

We didn’t accept that.

Through countless depositions of corporate representatives, plant engineers, and safety managers, we uncovered the truth:

• The Houston-based parent company controlled and directed the work at the Florida refinery.
• The safety decisions, operating procedures, and post-storm restart protocols were all written and enforced from Houston, not locally.
• The company’s own documentation showed it treated the Florida refinery as an extension of its Texas operations.

By proving who was really in charge, we broke through the workers’ compensation defense and kept the case alive, allowing our client his rightful day in court.

We also established that the steam buildup and pipe failure were entirely preventable. If the restart procedures had been followed correctly, the excessive pressure would never have occurred. This was not an act of nature; it was a human failure, the kind that happens when safety takes a back seat to production.

The Result

After years of litigation and relentless discovery, we secured a $6.75 million settlement for our client.

The result provided the means for lifelong medical care, financial stability for his family, and acknowledgment that what happened was not his fault, it was the defendant company’s.

This was more than a financial outcome; it was a victory for accountability in an industry that too often hides behind complexity and corporate layers.

Why This Case Matters

This case stands for a simple truth: jurisdiction doesn’t erase responsibility.

Even though the injury occurred in Florida, the negligent decisions were made in Houston by executives who treated safety as a checkbox instead of a commitment.

By uncovering the control and direction exerted from Texas, we held the right people accountable and proved that no company can outsource its responsibility for worker safety.

It also underscores a theme that runs through our work: catastrophic injuries don’t just happen, they’re caused by preventable choices. Through diligence, depositions, and an unshakable commitment to our client, we turned those choices into accountability.

Related Case Types

• Refinery & Chemical Plant Explosions
• Burn & Steam Injuries
• Corporate Negligence & Multi-State Liability

If you or someone you love has been injured in an industrial or refinery incident, Greenberg Streich, PLLC will fight to hold the right people accountable, wherever they are.

???? Call 832-583-3471 or reach out online to speak with our team confidentially.