Explosion injures salesman who had just sold eight reactors

A salesman who had just closed a deal for thermal decomposition reactors at a Canadian business claims he was severely burned after an employee prematurely opened a reactor before it had time to cool.

Leighton Harvey filed suit against Ecolomondo Corp., Ecolomondo International Corp. and 4403096 Canada, Inc. doing business as Ecolomondo Technologies on May 21 in federal court in New Orleans.

The incident, which happened Sept. 15, 2009 in Quebec, caused an explosion which destroyed the facility, the suit claims.

Harvey claims the facility where he had just sold eight reactors did not have adequate safety equipment, fire extinguishers, first aid facilities, tools or equipment, which he claims exacerbated his injuries.

According to Harvey's suit, Ecolomondo is the owner of a patented process for thermal decomposition which converts hydrocarbon-based waste feedstock into marketable by-products using a high temperature reactor. Ecolomondo had a contract for independent sales with World Ecology, a Louisiana company based in Baton Rouge, and for which Harvey worked.

Harvey is seeking damages for physical pain, suffering, disability, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, disfigurement, property losses and damages, lost wages, loss of wage earning capacity, lost commissions and profits, attorney's fees and interest.

New Orleans attorney Kearney S. Loughlin is representing Harvey.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:10cv01533