Family Of Man Who Died In Sludge-Filled Room Sues
By Peak Johnson
The widow of Carlos Ramos, one of the men who died tragically after being trapped in a room flooded with sludge at a wastewater treatment plant in 2014, has filed a lawsuit.
Priscilla Meraz, according to the El Paso Times, is suing the city of El Paso, TX, the El Paso Water Utilities Service Board, and Cubic Water LLC, for non-monetary relief of over $200,000.
The El Paso Times reported that the damages that are being sought include the funeral costs, burial expenses, and among others, physical pain and suffering experienced by Ramos.
Meraz’s lawsuit accuses Cubic Water of “negligence, including dangerous conditions, lack of care, lack of safety equipment and conscious indifference to the rights, safety and welfare of others.”
Ramos and his co-worker John Barrow had worked for Cubic Water LLC and were replacing a sludge pump at the Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Lower Valley in October 2014.
The deaths of both men had been reported to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to the El Paso Times. The administration managed and completed an investigation in April of last year.
Robert Lovett, who is representing Meraz, said that El Paso has until early next month to respond to the lawsuit.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration documents show that Cubic Water LLC had been “cited with five serious violations in the deaths, including regulations for respiratory protection, occupational safety and health standards, and exposure to toxic and hazardous substances.”
The documents also showed that the company was able to settle and get their penalties reduced to $18,000. Initially they had received a $30,400 fine, the El Paso Times reported.
“Any loss of life of employees or contractors is a tragedy. Our hearts go out to the family. Because this case is currently under litigation, we are unable to offer any further comments,” El Paso Water officials said in an emailed statement obtained by the El Paso Times.
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