There were numerous flaws in operating and safety procedures. The facility was unstaffed and people in charge of monitoring alarms were extremely slow to respond. Unbelievably, the companies showed no remorse and believed they had already suffered enough because they had to spend money to update the facility after the blast.
The jury saw it differently and awarded $5.5 Million in compensation to cover the extensive losses in property values and damages from the blast plus $138 Million in punitive damages. The jury foreperson was quoted as saying, “this should make real statement for safety concerning something as dangerous as this gas.”