CHANNELVIEW, Texas – A tankerman claiming injury during the Dec. 27 sulfuric acid release at a BWC Terminals facility in Channelview has filed a lawsuit alleging the company failed to warn nearby workers and properly contain the spill.
According to authorities, the chemical spill began when a collapsed catwalk ruptured a sulfuric acid supply line, releasing roughly one million gallons of the chemical at their Jacintoport facility.
BWC Terminals said most of the spill was contained within a designated area, but an unknown amount entered the Houston Ship Channel. Company officials told KPRC 2 that crews were collecting samples to determine how much reached the channel, a process that could take several days.
The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 31, says the plaintiff Jeffery Lee Lawson was “working as a tankerman aboard a vessel on the Houston Ship Channel, approximately 500 feet from Defendant’s facility.” The filing alleges that at about 2 a.m. Lawson “heard a loud crash and subsequently saw a large gas cloud being released from the terminal,” and that “no alarms, warnings, or notifications were provided by Defendants.”
He was soon “enveloped by the toxic substance,” the complaint says, and suffered immediate injuries — burning lungs, shortness of breath, throat pain, nausea, dizziness and skin irritation — and was later diagnosed with chemical exposure and inflammation of his lungs.
Attorney Kurt Arnold, who represents Lawson along with Adam Lewis of Arnold & Itkin, called the incident “a preventable disaster,” accusing plant operators of failing to follow basic safety procedures and putting nearby workers at risk.
“When companies cut corners, it is always the workers who suffer,” Arnold said.
He also warned of broader regulatory concerns: “With deregulation and weak enforcement, we’ve seen a disturbing rise in catastrophic events at chemical plants and facilities. Technology should be making these facilities safer. Instead, they’ve become more dangerous.”
The complaint seeks “monetary relief within the jurisdictional limits of this Court and over $1,000,000.00.”
That amount is just the minimum needed to file the case in court. It doesn’t limit how much money Lawson could get if he wins — damages could be higher.
The case remains pending.
KPRC 2 reached out to BWC Terminals for a comment on this lawsuit. They said the company does not comment on pending litigation and they “remain committed to operating safely, responsibly, and in compliance with all applicable regulations.”