Hide Article Text (OCR)
] SergeantsSue Over , Silo Blastt LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Lawsuits seeking $3 million in dam-5 ages from a Defense Depart-t ment contractor have been filedby two Air Force sergeants injured in the explosion of a Titan II missile silo at Damascus.Sgts Rex Hukle of Mulvane, Kan., and John Gregory Devlin of Cincinnati alleged in separate i lawsuits filed Monday in U S District Court here that the / missile's manufacturer, Martin Marietta Corp of Denver, was 1 responsible for their injuriesEach man asked $1 5 millionIwf~'.There was no immediate comment from the companyHukle and Devlin said they suffered permanent injuries and disfigurement as well as excruciating pain in the Sep-t ternber missile fuel explosion,' which injured 21 airmen and killed one servicemanThe explosion hurled the mis sile s nuclear warhead into a nearby fieldLittle Rock attorney William i N Carter, who is representingi Hukle and Devlin, said the Airt Force was not named as a defendant because military personnel are prohibited by law from suing the military for injuries received in the line of duty.I Hukle and Devlin had been r inside the missile silo working to stop a fuel leak but left just i before the explosion occurred at 3 a m Sept 19 They were i standing by the entrance gate ofthe missile complex when the i explosion rocked the central Arkansas site, Carter saidF -Hukle suffered a crushed knee, burns to his hands, shoul ders and neck, and lung damage, Carter said Devlin suf*1 fered a broken leg, severe burns,cuts, bruises and internal injuries. he saidjIn the lawsuit, Devlin and Hukle contended that Martin Marietta was negligent in various aspects of the operation, construction, design and maintenance of the missile The suits alleged the company failed to warn Hukle, Devlin and other airmen of proper safety precautionsHukle and Devlin are sta honed at Little Rock Air Force Base, thjt are on convalescent leave, Carter said.The case has been assigned to , U.S. District Judge George Howard Jr
Newspaper Details
Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville, Arkansas, US
Tue, Nov 04, 1980
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Arkansas S.
AR, USA 25 Feb 2020
Other Publications Near Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville Democrat
Fayetteville Daily
Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times
Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville Daily Democrat
