NASHVILLE, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — A Tyson Poultry worker is claiming negligence against the manufacturers of a fluid heater used at an Arkansas plant after he suffered burns in an explosion.
Triston James Rhodes filed a complaint April 11 in Howard County Circuit Court against Fulton Boiler Works Inc., alleging negligence and liability.
Rhodes, according to his complaint, was working for Tyson Poultry as a maintenance technician at the company's plant in Nashville, Ark., on July 9, 2020. He alleges as he was conducting a safety switch check on a Fulton thermal fluid heater, the heater exploded and caught on fire. Rhodes claims he and another co-worker were engulfed in the explosion and flames and that he suffered life-threatening second- and third-degree burns to 18% of his body surface.
He further claims he has undergone painful procedures as well as physical and occupational therapy and has permanent scarring and disfigurement. Rhodes alleges Fulton failed to warn of the danger and did not give reasonable and adequate instructions regarding conducting safety switch tests, especially after Fulton personnel inspected and serviced the heater days before the explosion. He also alleges Fulton negligently designed and inspected the heater.
Rhodes seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by W. David Carter of Mercy Carter LLP in Texarkana, Texas, and J. David Crisp of The Law Offices of J. David Crisp in Texarkana.