Explosive
Toilet Owner Sues the Pants Off Contractor
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man injured when
a portable toilet exploded is suing a general contractor
and a coal company for negligence.
John Jenkins, 53, and his wife Ramona Jenkins, 35, of
Brave, Pa., filed the lawsuit in Monongalia County
Circuit Court on Tuesday. They are suing Chisler Inc., a
general contractor from Fairview, and Eastern Associated
Coal Corp. for $10 million in damages.
The explosion occurred July 13, 2004, at Parrish
Shaft in Blacksville. Jenkins, a North West Fuels
Development Inc. methane power plant operator, entered a
portable toilet, sat down and tried to light a
cigarette.
"When I struck the lighter, the whole thing just
detonated — the whole top blew off," John Jenkins said.
"I can't tell you if it blew me out the door or if I
jumped out."
The lawsuit says the cigarette ignited methane gas
leaking from a pipe underneath the unit.
Eastern Associated Coal Corp. owns the property where
the explosion occurred. Chisler Inc. ran over the
pipelines with heavy equipment before the incident,
causing the methane gas leak, Jenkins alleges.
The lawsuit also says there was no sign on the
portable toilet warning that smoking, matches and open
flames were forbidden.
Jenkins had severe burns on his face, neck, arms,
torso and legs. He is permanently disfigured, the
lawsuit says.
Eastern Associated Coal is a subsidiary of Peabody
Energy. A call to that company's Charleston office was
not immediately returned Thursday. A man who answered
the phone at Chisler's office in Fairview said he was
familiar with the lawsuit and the company would have no
comment. He would not give his name. |