The City of West, Texas, has sued CF Industries Holdings Inc., as the supplier of the ammonium nitrate involved in an explosion at West Fertilizer Co. April 17. The City is also suing Adair Grain, the owner of the local fertilizer supplier.
The City alleges that CF should have inspected West Fertilizer to adjudge the safety of supplying product to that location. It also said CF should have altered the product to keep it from exploding.
“CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has learned that on Friday, June 21, 2013, the City of West Texas filed a lawsuit against West Fertilizer Company and CF Industries and certain of CF Industries’ subsidiaries in the District Court of McLennan County Texas,” said in a statement. “ The lawsuit seeks recovery for damages the City of West Texas claims it sustained as the result of an explosion that occurred at the West Fertilizer Company on April 17, 2013.
“CF Industries is sympathetic to those whose lives were affected by this unfortunate incident. CF Industries believes, however, that there is no basis for this suit against CF Industries and its subsidiaries and that the company should not have been added to this lawsuit. The CF Industries’ companies will seek dismissal of this lawsuit and otherwise defend the company vigorously in court.”