Man Files Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Over Oil Equipment Injury in Midland
In a significant legal case that highlights workplace safety issues in the oil and gas industry, a Midland man, Scott Calcote, has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Orteq Energy Technologies, LLC. This lawsuit stems from an incident involving a cement pump truck that Calcote claims was dangerously defective and unreasonably hazardous.
The incident occurred in January when Calcote and his crew arrived at a wellhead in Midland County to carry out wall cementing operations, a critical task in the oil drilling process. While preparing for the job, Calcote was stationed on the cement pump truck, performing routine procedures. He fell approximately 10 feet from the truck, resulting in severe injuries.
Calcote alleges that the design of the cement pump truck violated OSHA regulations and lacked crucial safety measures, such as guardrails, thereby rendering the work area unsafe. As a consequence of the fall, he suffered a serious skull fracture and a traumatic brain injury, which required immediate emergency surgery. This injury has left him with significant and lasting disabilities, profoundly impacting his quality of life.
Derek Potts, the National Managing Partner at Potts Law Firm, the legal firm representing Calcote, emphasized the extreme dangers faced by oil field workers, stating, "Oil field workers must do their jobs in one of the most dangerous work environments in the world and have so many risks to deal with already. To have unsafe equipment on top of the regular hazards they encounter on a daily basis is clearly unacceptable."
The case, titled Scott Calcote v. Orteq Energy Technologies, LLC, will be adjudicated in the 142nd District Court of Midland County, Texas. It raises critical questions about the responsibilities of equipment manufacturers to ensure the safety of their products and the implications of negligence in design and safety compliance.
This lawsuit serves not only as a personal battle for Calcote but also as a potential precedent for other cases in the industry, urging stricter adherence to safety regulations and increased accountability among equipment suppliers. As the case unfolds, it underscores the paramount need for enhanced safety measures and protective protocols in hazardous work environments.
As public attention grows around the issues of workplace safety in the oil and gas sector, this case exemplifies the pressing challenges workers face and the legal avenues available to seek justice for unsafe working conditions. The outcomes could foster legislative changes or stricter regulatory oversight, ensuring that tragedies like Calcote's do not continue to occur.
Stakeholders in the oil industry, including safety advocates and legal professionals, will be watching closely as this case progresses, hoping for a resolution that reinforces the importance of worker safety and proper equipment standards. The safety of future workers may ultimately depend on the findings and rulings stemming from this lawsuit.