EDWARDSVILLE – A Madison County man claims he was injured while delivering nitrogen in a Wayne County well explosion.
Clifford Jerman and Laura Jerman filed the suit Jan. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court against Woolsey Operating Co. LLC; Les Wilson Inc.; Franklin Well Services; C&J Well Services, formerly known as Nabors Completion & Production Services Co.; and Linde North America, citing negligence.
On Jan. 27, 2014, Clifford Jerman claims he was delivering 7,400 gallons of nitrogen to a well in Wayne County, which is allegedly owned and operated by defendant Woolsey, the complaint states. While he was in the so-called “zone of danger,” an explosion occurred and debris hit him and the truck he was unloading, the suit states.
Wilson Inc. is named in the suit because it was acting as the drill operator at the well and was in charge of drilling operations that day, the suit says.
Franklin Well Services and C&J Well Services are included in the suit because it was performing well services at the location where the plaintiff was injured, the suit says.
Defendant Linde North America Inc. owns and operates the trucking company that supplied the truck the plaintiff was driving that day. The plaintiff alleges Linde North America did not provide a safe place for him to work.
Jerman accuses the defendants of not warning him of the dangerous conditions of the well operations, not properly fencing off an appropriate setback from the well to mitigate a zone of danger, and causing an explosion.
The plaintiff has been permanently injured, the suit says, and will be prevented from attending to his usual duties and employment. He also has suffered pain and expects more medical bills to treat his injuries.
He seeks at least $75,000 from each defendant as well as court costs. Laura Jerman is suing all five defendants for loss of consortium and seeks at least $75,000 from each defendant, plus court costs. They are represented by Bob L. Perica of the Perica Law Firm PC of Wood River.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-113