Jury Awards $44 Million to Family of Victim Killed at ExxonMobil Refinery

Oct 10,2018

Last month, a jury awarded $44 million to the family of a victim who was killed in a crane accident at the Beaumont ExxonMobil refinery in 2016. The man, 37-year-old Miguel Barron, was a contractor working for the company AltairStrickland when the fatal incident occurred.

ExxonMobil had hired B&G Crane for crane work and AltairStrickland for rigging work, for maintenance at the plant. B&G Crane was lifting a 12-ton heat exchanger from the refinery when it made contact with a 1,000-pound water pipe, causing it to fall and crush Barron.

The family of the victim sued ExxonMobil, AltairStrickland and B&G Crane for wrongful death. They settled with the first two companies prior to trial. At the trial, the attorney for Barron’s family argued that B&G Crane had violated the safety plan it had presented to ExxonMobil by failing to remove hazards from the path of the crane’s lift. The jury found the company negligent, awarding the plaintiffs $44 million.

Barron was survived by his three daughters, his parents, and his two brothers who were also working on the AltairStrickland crew with him the day he died. All of them were plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

“Nothing can ever make up for the pain of losing a loved one, but this verdict will at least ensure the victim’s family is taken care of financially after their tragic loss,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, El Centro, and Yucca Valley, and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.