Oklahoma Rig Fire Litigation
Aug 27, 2019
David Rumley of Wigington Rumley Dunn & Blair LLP represents the families of two workers who tragically died in a January 2018 Quinton, Oklahoma rig fire, Josh Ray and Cody Risk. (Click their names to review the petitions filed on behalf of these victims and their families.) From Mr. Rumley: "It's error after error after error. Lighter drilling mud was used not only because it was cheaper but because investors could be told the well was more productive, with a bigger flare at the site. The horrific deaths of these men could have been avoided if the mud engineers had simply done what they were supposed to do."
There has been extensive media coverage of the litigation surrounding this terrible oil rig fire, with news coverage that includes:
- Tulsa World (October 2018)
- New York Times
- The Coloradoan (USA Today Network)
- Denver Post
- Houston Chronicle
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Herald-Courier
- KFOR-Oklahoma
- Tulsa World (April 2018)
- Roughneck City News
- E&E News
In January 2020, media trial coverage included:
- "Jury Selected For 2018 Drilling Rig Explosion Trial," written by Joseph Holloway and published by Tulsa's NewsOn6 on January 14, 2020 (includes video coverage)
- "Trial underway over 2018 rig blast that killed 5 workers in Oklahoma," published by OK Energy Today on January 13, 2020
- "Attorneys present opening statements in trial over Quinton explosion," written by Derrick James and published by Enid News & Eagle on January 14, 2020
- "First Day Of Testimony For Quinton Well Fire, Explosion Lawsuit," written by Amy Kauffman and published by Tulsa's NewsOn6 on January 14, 2020 (includes video coverage)
- "Trial begins against company in Oklahoma oil rig explosion," written by the Associated Press on January 14, 2020, and published by media across the country including the Washington Post, PublicRadio-Tulsa; KOCO-TV - Oklahoma City (includes video coverage); News12-Sherman, Texas; and the Seattle Times
- "Video testimony played at Quinton explosion trial," written by Derrick James and published by Enid News & Eagle on January 16, 2020
- "Oklahoma Oil Rig Explosion Wrongful Death Trial Begins in Oklahoma," published by Insurance Journal on January 17, 2020
- "2 years after Oklahoma well explosion killed 5, safety rules remain much the same," written by Jordan Blum and published by the Houston Chronicle on January 22, 2020
- "Two years after five killed Oklahoma well explosion, few changes in safety rules," written by Jordan Blum and published by the Houston Chronicle on January 22, 2020 (article update)
- "NOV's expert witness challenges lawsuit claims," written by Derrick James and published by Woodward News on January 23, 2020
- "Largest jury verdict in Pittsburg County history for victims of Quinton gas well explosion," written by Ashley Ellis published by KTUL-Tulsa on January 28, 2020
- "Jury awards $20 million to families of victims killed in Quinton rig explosion," published by KJRH-Tulsa on January 28 ,2020
- "Jury Makes $20 Million Award In Deadly Quinton Gas Well Explosion," published by News on 6 - Tulsa on January 28 ,2020
- "Jury awards $20 million to families of men killed in rig explosion," written by K. Querry and published by KFOR-Oklahoma City on January 28, 2020
- "Okla. Jury Hands Down $20M Verdict In Fatal Oil Rig Blowout," published by Law360 on January 28, 2020
- "Pittsburg County jury holds mud company partly responsible for fatal blowout two years ago," written by Jack Money and published by The Oklahoman on January 29, 2020
- "Company found partly responsible for Oklahoma rig explosion," written by the Associated Press on January 29, 2020, and published by media across the country and internationally including the New York Times, ABC News, US News & World Report, Claims Journal, Minnesota Star Tribune, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, and This is Money-United Kingdom
- "Jury Awards $20M to Families of Two Rig Workers Killed in Quinton Gas Well Explosion," written by Matt Trotter and published by Public Radio Tulsa on January 29, 2020
- "Jury awards $20 million to families of victims killed in Quinton rig explosion," published by KJRH - Tulsa on January 29, 2020
- "Jury Awards $20 Million for Oklahoma Gas Well Blast," written by David Lee and published by Courthouse News on January 29, 2020
- "Estate of Fort Worth Man Killed in Gas Rig Explosion Awarded $1M," published by NBC-DFW on January 29, 2020
- "$20 million awarded to families of Quinton, Okla., oil rig explosion victims," written by Hicham Racche and published on January 30, 2020 by KFOR- Oklahoma City which included this video interview with Jeff Wigington (shared with permission):
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In June 2020, the verdict was discussed in detail in an article published in Trial Magazine's Verdicts & Settlements section entitled "Jury Awards Damages to Families of Oklahoma Oil Rig Fire Victims," shared with permission below:
Trial Magazine June 2020 Verdicts&Settlements Oklahoma Oil Rig Fire (pdf)