Nissen and Ryan Burn Injury Verdict
This case arose from an anhydrous ammonia tank rupture. One man lost his life. Another suffered severe and permanent injuries. The claims focused on allegations involving a defective weld, inadequate inspection over time, and failure-to-warn issues. The matter proceeded through litigation and resulted in a $9.6 million verdict, with additional settlements involving other defendants.
This explosion case involved a dangerous tank failure, questions about whether the defect should have been discovered earlier, and whether appropriate warnings and safety measures were in place. But the human importance of the case is just as significant. Serious burn and chemical exposure cases do not end when the emergency response ends, and they do not end when a verdict is entered. Survivors often live with the consequences for years. A major burn or chemical trauma case can involve hospitalization, surgeries, pain, scar burden, emotional trauma, loss of normal daily life, work disruption, family strain, and the need to account for future treatment and future losses. In wrongful death matters, the harm includes not only the loss of life but also the devastating impact on spouses, children, parents, and other loved ones.
What catastrophic burn and tank-failure cases often involve
A serious tank rupture or industrial burn event may involve many categories of proof, including:
- design or manufacturing problems
- defective welding or structural weakness
- long-term inspection failures
- pressure-system safety issues
- inadequate warnings or safety procedures
- maintenance breakdowns
- emergency response and medical evidence
- evidence of future medical care and permanent impairment
In a catastrophic case, damages are not limited to the initial hospitalization. The legal evaluation must often consider future procedures, scar management, physical limitations, emotional harm, loss of earning capacity, family impact, and long-term care needs.
The Nissen and Ryan case involves technical failure, serious injury, death, trial work, and long-term consequences. It is exactly the kind of case that shows why careful investigation, expert analysis, and full damages development matter in catastrophic burn-related litigation.
Contact us today
If you or a loved one suffered severe burns or catastrophic injuries because a tank, pressure system, industrial component, or dangerous product failed, contact our legal team for a free case review. Serious cases require serious investigation, and important evidence can be lost if the case is not evaluated promptly.
On catastrophic burn and explosion matters, Gregory McEwen works jointly with explosion and burn attorney Eric Hageman in trial collaboration. Eric Hageman is the Managing Partner of Pritzker Hageman. He leads the Pritzker Hageman burn injury legal team.