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Case Summaries

Oil Field Accident: Worker Employee Killed While Working on Well Site

Nueces County, Texas: On or about January 23, 2012, in the process of running into a well site, owned, operated and controlled by Aurora Resources Corporation and EDDE Drilling Services, L.L.C., casing became entangled, twisted, and/ or struck by tongs, causing it to separate and fall, striking Victor Noe Garza in the head and killing him.

Testimony later revealed that after the floorhand operating the controls realized that the circulating valve was coming loose, rather than stopping the procedure and clearing the rig floor, he told the operator to go slow. The circulating valve became detached, fell, struck and killed Mr. Garza.

Wigington Rumley Dunn & Blair LLP filed a suit contending that Aurora Resources and EDDE Drilling Services were negligent for failing to properly inspect and maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition and for failing to properly train, instruct and supervise its employees, and were proximate causes of the injuries to Mr. Garza, the physical pain and mental anguish he suffered, his death, and of the damages suffered by the plaintiffs. This case settled for a confidential sum.