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Denver City Gas Victims’ Families SuePLAINS (Special)—Lour dam- aiion and no warning was given! small family reunion. In addi-nge suits, filed by relatives of three persons killed by a cloud of hydrogen sulfide gasto any of these people. Thesedefendants allowed the poisonous gas to escape from the wellnear Denver City Feb, 2, havebeen lodged here, seeking nearly million in damages.The suits, filed by Denver City attorney Paul New, accuse Atlantic Richfield Co., operator of a gas injection system, and ARCO area supervisor C. R. Windham of negligence. Courtin the process of their operation to Mr. and Mrs, Pattonobservers. believe the bloc oftion.Hydrogen sulfide, an impurity found in West Texas oil andand their daughter* Delores, guests included A.L. Amerson; his wife. Edith, Mrs. Patton’s sister; Mr. and Mrs. J.R. May (Mrs. May was the mother of Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Amer-gas, has a paralyzing effect on]s?*^: anc* 1-1-year-old Peevythe respiratory system, choking U^r*. ^ • ....its victims to death, according! According to the petition, theto medical experts.A similar damage suitPeevy girl wua an overnight houseguest of Delores Patton.During March 13 hearings before the Railroad Commission 111 Austin,' ARCO officials said they had operated tire gas injection safely for several years without incident. The company said it spent an additional .$100,000 in reseaxch ‘‘just to be on the safe side.*’was;..... , “oc, filed against ARCO May 1 insuits is the largest ever filed.in u#St DisU Juclge Sa/ah THughes' Dallas court. That ac-Yoakum County's 121st District Court.The action was brought by Mary Kathevn Robertson, Carol White and Jimmy Lee Amerson, children of Mr. and Mrs. A.L, Amerson who died in the mishap, and Mr. and Mrs. Bud R, Pecvy, whose daughter, Clara, also was killed.Nine persons died in the predawn hours of Feb. 2, Eight of them had been sleeping in the 3.C. Patton residence about ISO yards from the leaking gas injection operation. The ninth, 30-year-old Steve Sparger, was an ARCO employe apparently en route to investigate the reported leak.According to the Peevy suit, ARCG‘s operation of the gas injection system. an operation forcing gas into the ground to recover move oil, was “extremely hazardous.”“It was necessarily more •hazardous and dangerous when carried out in a habitated area,” the petition said. “No signs were posted warning of this dangerous and deadly oper-tion, tiled by the six children of Mrs. J.C. PaLlon, seeks $1 million in damages.The tragedy occurred while* the Patton family was hosting a'The Shop with^a Thousand Gift itemsfor MOTHER'S DAYSUNSHINE SQUARE4*2345U 50lhAlt! 5150 OFF REGULAR PRICF
Newspaper Details
Avalanche Journal
Lubbock, Texas, US
Thu, May 08, 1975
Page 100
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 10 Jul 2022
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