$180.3 Million Verdict for three men injured in Grain Elevator Explosion in Downstate Illinois

 

ST. LOUIS, IL – Robert A. Clifford, Kevin P. Durkin and Colin H. Dunn, partners at Clifford Law Offices, led the trial team that obtained a record $112 million verdict on (Friday, June 1 2012) on behalf of two men who were burned in a grain elevator explosion in downstate Illinois owned by ConAgra Foods.  Also part of the trial team was Brad L. Badgley of Belleville, Illinois.  The jury returned a verdict of $41.5  million in compensatory damages and $34.3 million in punitive damages for John W. Jentz.  The jury also returned a verdict of $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $33.3 million in punitive damages for Robert Schmidt.

Following a one-month trial in federal court in St. Louis before Judge Michael J. Reagan, the jury returned a verdict in 10 hours on behalf of Jentz of St. Peter, Minnesota, and Schmidt of Hutchinson, Minnesota.  The two men were among those working in the ConAgra grain facility in downstate Chester, Illinois, on April 27, 2010, when it exploded in flames, burning Jentz on 70-75 percent of his body.   He was airlifted by helicopter from the scene and spent months recuperating in the hospital. 

He suffered disabling injuries and has undergone numerous surgeries and skin grafts. Attorneys for the severely injured man contended that the grain bin had not been properly cleaned in nearly 20 years and that despite an unusual odor, smoke and unusually high temperatures in the bin, they did not take proper precautions for the workers.

 “Mr. Jentz and the workers on the scene were not properly instructed as to what was going on in the hot bin,” Clifford said following the verdict.  “Company officials knew the seriousness of what was happening and never conveyed that information to their workers or provide them with the proper precautions so that they would avoid injury.  The jury’s verdict in compensatory and punitive damages speaks for itself.”  The jury found Jentz one (1) percent at fault and Schmidt was determined not to be at fault in the tragedy. Jentz was awarded $1 million in additional punitives by the defendant Westside Salvage, Inc.

 A third man was injured in the incident, Justin Becker, who was represented by other counsel.  He received one-third of the $100,000,000 in punitive damages that the jury awarded to be divided equally between the three men.

A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD WITH JENTZ AND SCHMIDT AND THEIR ATTORNEYS, ROBERT A. CLIFFORD, KEVIN P. DURKIN and COLIN H. DUNN MONDAY at 10:30 A.M.  IN CHICAGO AT CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, 120 N. LASALLE ST., 31ST FLOOR, CHICAGO.  VIDEOS OF THE SCENE AND THE VICTIMS WILL BE SHOWN. PHOTOS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

The concrete grain bin that exploded while the three workers were taking out equipment was used to store wheat middling pellets, feed for livestock, which is part of the process of making flour from wheat.  ConAgra’s headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska. 

For further information, contact attorneys Robert Clifford at 312-899-9090 or 312-758-9090, Kevin Durkin at 312-485-4503 or Colin Dunn at 312-758-7008.  Clifford Law Offices’ Communications Partner Pamela Menaker can be reached at 847-721-0909.
______________
Case Nos.: 3:10-CV-474-MJR-PMF; 3:10-CV-952-MJR-PMF; 3:11-CV-391-MJR-PMF
For further information, please contact Clifford Law Offices’ Communications Partner Pamela Menaker at 847-721-0909 or 847-251-4877.
www.CliffordLaw.com
www.CliffordAviationLaw.com

Attorneys for Plaintiffs, John Jentz and Robert Schmidt:
Robert A. Clifford, Kevin P. Durkin, Colin H. Dunn
Clifford Law Offices
120 N. LaSalle St., 31st Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
312-899-9090
and
Brian L. Badgley, P.D.
Brad L. Badgley
26 Public Square
Belleville, IL 62220
618-235-1000