Jury awards $6.7M for chemical burn injury in industrial accident case

Workplace Safety - Illinois
Jury awards $6.7M for chemical burns that proved fatal

The family of a man who died from chemical burns in an on-the-job accident was awarded $6.7 million. In 2007, Francisco Moreno Garcia, 26, was insulating pipe for a subcontractor at Archer Daniels Midland Corp., a grain-processing plant in Decatur. He was near a mechanical recompression evaporator when it malfunctioned and he was sprayed with scalding liquid waste and steam. About 32 hours after the accident, Garcia was removed from life support. Archer Daniels stipulated to liability and the case proceeded on damages. The parties argued over the amount of concious pain and suffering that Garcia suffered before his death. The treating trauma surgeon testified that Garcia was not completely sedated because his morphine was tempered to prevent a decrease in blood pressure. At various times, Garcia opened his eyes, moved his arms and legs and fought against his breathing tube, according to plaintiff's counsel.

Estate of Garcia v. Archer Daniels Midland Corp.