Gonzalez v. O & G Industries, Inc.

Citations

• 341 Conn. 644

Syllabus

The plaintiffs sought to recover damages for personal injuries sustained in an explosion that occurred at a natural gas fueled power plant as a result of the defendants' alleged negligence. Prior to construction of the power plant, the defendant K Co., which received approval to build and operate the power plant, entered into an agreement with the defendant O Co., pursuant to which O Co. agreed to serve as the general contractor for the construction project. K Co. also entered into a contract for management and administrative services with the defendant P Co. Prior to completion of the construction project, and before the power generat- ing equipment could be started, the natural gas fuel supply pipelines had to be cleared of construction debris. O Co. and its subcontractors chose to perform ''gas blow'' procedures over the course of two days in order to clear the debris. The procedure involves the flow of natural gas through the pipes at a higher pressure than during normal operation, whereby the force of the gas propels the debris through the pipes until it is ejected through a nozzle. On the second day of the gas blow proce- dures, two procedures were conducted with certain irregularities. Most significantly, and unlike with the prior gas blow procedures, the dis- charge nozzle was oriented horizontally, rather than vertically. Because of this, by the time the second gas blow procedure began, natural gas remained trapped and mixed with air in a partially enclosed area into which the nozzle discharged the gas. During the second gas blow proce- dure, the natural gas also flowed through the pipes at an unusually high pressure, and, as a result, heated debris ignited the accumulated natural gas and oxygen, causing the explosion. The plaintiffs, two injured individ- uals and one of their spouses, alleged that the defendants were strictly liable insofar as they engaged in an ultrahazardous activity that caused the plaintiffs' injuries. The plaintiffs also alleged that