Port Arthur LNG scaffolding lawsuit defendants seek consolidation in Texas

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The companies sued over April’s deadly Port Arthur LNG scaffolding collapse in Sabine Pass are ramping up their legal push — with multiple moves that could shape where, and how, the pretrial matters for the cases are heard.

The April 29 industrial accident killed three workers during construction of a massive concrete LNG tank. Two separate wrongful death lawsuits followed — one in Jefferson County, representing the family of Reginald Magee, and another in Harris County for the other two men who died, Felipe Mendez and Felix Lopez.

On August 6, ConocoPhillips and Sempra made their latest filing to consolidate the pretrial proceedings for the two lawsuits — a move that could potentially take the Jefferson County case out of the local courthouse. Bechtel, also named in the lawsuits, is not part of that request, but is pursuing a separate effort to move the claims into private arbitration.

The Bernsen Law Firm, representing the plaintiffs in the Jefferson County case, has told 12News they believe the consolidation effort is part of an attempt to move the case out of the county. That’s where a 172nd District Judge Mitch Templeton is currently weighing possible rulings over an alleged restraining order violation connected to the work site.

For now, both lawsuits are on hold. A state multidistrict litigation panel — made up of Texas judges — will decide whether to consolidate the cases, and if so, where the trial will be held.