As each week passes we gain new insight into the irresponsibility of the West Fertilizer Company whose plant exploded in West, Texas, killing 14 and leveling part of the town.
McALLEN, Texas — The Texas fertilizer plant that exploded last month, killing 14 people, injuring more than 200 others and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to the surrounding area had only $1 million in liability coverage, lawyers said Saturday.
Tyler lawyer Randy C. Roberts said he and other attorneys who have filed lawsuits against West Fertilizer’s owners were told Thursday that the plant carried only $1 million in liability insurance. Brook Laskey, an attorney hired by the plant’s insurer to represent West Fertilizer Co., confirmed the amount Saturday in an email to The Associated Press, after the Dallas Morning News first reported it. [...]
Roberts said he expects the plant’s owner to ask a judge to divide the $1 million in insurance money among the plaintiffs, several of whom he represents, and then file for bankruptcy.
To recap — they didn’t report over 500,000 pounds of explosive ammonium nitrate, they reported that there was no risk of fire or explosion at the plant, and the local emergency planning committee doesn’t actually meet or plan anything. In fact, the head of the local emergency planning committee has never even heard of the local emergency planning committee.
And they have no insurance. At least not enough to even begin covering the cost of this preventable disaster. A tab that could end up being picked up by state or federal taxpayers, if at all.
This is your Small Government at work. The residents of West, Texas are suffering for your bumper-stickers.