Company that used flame torches to cut up gas tanks sued for fire damage

NEW ORLEANS— A New Orleans business is suing a company it contracted to remove gas tanks for a fire that broke out.

Greenbull Enterprises LLC filed suit against Environmental Compliance Management Services LLC, Petrotechs of Louisiana Inc., USG Insurance Services Inc., Hallmark Insurance Company and Scottsdale Indemnity Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court.

The plaintiff claims that the defendants were contracted to pull gas tanks out of the ground of the petitioner’s property. The gas tanks were removed and cut up with a flame torch on the premises. On pulling up the last tank, the fire was discovered. The building was completely destroyed along with its contents, which are reported to be mostly expensive and antique building materials.

The defendants are accused of negligence through its agents, employees, and others acting on its behalf for the fire that destroyed the plaintiff’s property on July 23, 2012. The suit includes a list of failure on the part of the defendants: failure to use safe devices to remove gas tanks, not having a fire extinguisher or water hose or being able to reach a water source in time to contain the fire, not observing the breakout of the fire, not taking appropriate measures to keep the fire from spreading, not providing adequate supervision, not following industry and safety codes and any other acts of negligence found in court.

An undisclosed amount is sought for property damage, special damages including loss of value of the building, loss of the value of its contents, demolition and clean up costs, costs owed to the city, loss of revenue, loss of profits, any extra income lost, wages, and other expenditures, as well as loss of business reputation and property value.

The plaintiff is represented by attorney John B. Lambremont Sr. of Baton Rouge.

The case has been assigned to Division I Judge Piper D. Griffin.

Case no. 2013-06858.