LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The family of a man killed at a plant explosion in Louisville last week is utilizing a nationally recognized trial lawyer.
Ben Crump, Mark Lanier and Lonita Baker have been retained by the family of Keven Dawson Jr., who was one of two men killed at Givaudan Sense Colour in the Clifton neighborhood on Nov. 12. The explosion also injured 11 people and damaged homes around the plant on Payne Street.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference with the family of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, as RowVaughn Wells, mother of Tyre, right, and Tyre's stepfather Rodney Wells, along with attorney Tony Romanucci, left, also stand with Crump, in Memphis, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Crump specializes in civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases such as wrongful death lawsuits.
"The devastating explosion at the Givaudan plant has upended and destroyed lives, leaving families grieving and survivors struggling to recover," Crump said in a news release. "Early reports suggest serious safety lapses and ignored warnings that endangered employees and the community. We will fight tirelessly to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable."
Just days before the explosion, an employee reportedly warned co-workers about a critical piece of equipment at the plant—Cooker 6.
According to workers, the employee explicitly told them not to walk past Cooker 6, as it had been overheating for several days. This warning, issued five days before the tragic incident, raises serious questions about whether the equipment should have been taken out of service sooner.
The explosion was the second in just over two decades at the plant, which has been operated by Switzerland-based Givaudan since 2021. One worker was killed in 2003 when a tank overheated and burst, according to federal investigators' conclusion of what likely happened at the facility then operated by D.D. Williamson & Co.
The family of Dawson and the legal team will hold a press conference on Monday.
Crump has represented families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Keenan Anderson, Henrietta Lacks, Tyre Nichols, and Breonna Taylor. His firm also represented people impacted by the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Crump has won financial settlements in about 200 police brutality cases, including a $27 million settlement for George Floyd’s family in the infamous Minneapolis case.
The explosion at 1901 Payne Street shattered windows and shook homes in the Clifton neighborhood, just east of downtown.
Louisville first responders quickly responded to what it called a "hazardous materials incident" and issued a shelter in place for a 1-mile radius from the area. By 4:40 p.m., EMA lifted the shelter-in-place but said an evacuation order for the two blocks surrounding the building remained in place.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said employees inside the plant initially told officials "everything was normal activity when the explosion occurred."
The Louisville Fire Department is leading the investigation, along with state and federal partners. According to a news release, a federal reconstruction team from the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is headed to Louisville shortly after the incident to determine the cause of the incident.
Related Stories:
- Louisville fire, ATF continue investigating Givaudan plant for cause of fatal explosion
- Givaudan employee describes 'lots of leaks' at Louisville plant that exploded
- After deadly blast, Louisville leader says Clifton residents 'want the company gone'
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