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January 2, 2009

2007 accident prompts wrongful death lawsuit

By Cass Rains Staff Writer

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against a ranching corporation in the 2007 death of a Hanor Farms worker.

According to the suit filed Dec. 23 in Garfield County District Court, Molly B. Neuman is seeking in excess of $10,000 for the estate of Adrian Gonzales.

According to the suit, Gonzales, 17, was injured at Hanor Farms in Ames Jan. 4, 2007, when he worked for JCL Management, which is contracted by the hog operation. The suit claims he was ordered to open a high-pressure pipe without being told of the potential danger.

When Gonzales opened the valve the pressure caused the top of the valve to blow off and strike him in the head, the suit alleges. Gonzales was taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and died Jan. 5, 2007.

Neuman, as administrator of Gonzales’ estate, is seeking in excess of $10,000 for the “conspicuous pain and suffering” of Gonzales, medical and burial expenses and further damages both known and unknown, according to the suit.

Neuman also is seeking damages in excess of $10,000 for Gonzales’ six siblings for pecuniary loss, loss of services, contributions, companionship, love and grief caused by Gonzales’ death.

The suit alleges Roberts Ranch LLC failed to “exercise due care” to Gonzales and “failed to use ordinary care to provide a safe work environment on the premises.”

The suit also alleges a “dangerous condition” was known, or should have been known by Roberts Ranch LLC, which caused “unreasonable risk or harm” to Gonzales. It claims Gonzales’ injuries were “directly caused” by a failure to exercise ordinary care to warn Gonzales of the existence of a dangerous condition.

Hanor Farms is one of the nation’s largest pork producers with operations in seven states and more than 500 employees.

Attorneys for Neuman and Roberts Ranch LLC could not be reached Friday for comment.

According to online court records, Associate District Judge Tom Newby has been assigned to the case.

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