Man Sues Over Exploding Porta-Potty


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Man Sues Over Exploding Porta-Potty

Posted 6/2/2005 08:20 AM

The lawsuit alleges Pennsylvania man was injured when methane gas leaked into the toilet and ignited when he lit a cigarette.

Story by The Associated Press

A Pennsylvania man injured when a portable toilet exploded is suing a general contractor and a coal company for negligence.

John Jenkins, 53, and his wife, Ramona Jenkins, of Brave, Pa., filed the lawsuit in Monongalia County Circuit Court in Morgantown on Tuesday. They are suing Chisler Inc., a general contractor from Fairview, and Eastern Associated Coal for $10 million.

The explosion occurred July 13, 2004, at Parrish Shaft in Blacksville. Jenkins is a North West Fuels Development methane power plant operator. He entered a portable toilet, sat down and tried to light a cigarette. When he struck the lighter, the toilet exploded.

The lawsuit says the cigarette ignited methane gas leaking from a pipe underneath the unit.

Eastern Associated Coal owns the property where the explosion occurred. Jenkins alleges Chisler ran over the pipelines with heavy equipment before the incident, causing the methane gas leak.

Jenkins had severe burns on his face, neck, arms, torso and legs. The lawsuit says he is permanently disfigured.

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=3161

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... Smoking cigarettes in a methane power plant is a bad idea? Who knew?

586010352[/snapback]

lol, thats the EXACT same thing i was thinking. gee, if i work around methane, maybe i should NEVER PLAY WITH FIRE.

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Last night I was watching an old episode of Discovery Channel's MYTHBUSTERS and they were testing with different ways to egnite toilets.

They build a plexy glass capsule, with the normal size of a bathroom, with the tub, the sink, and of course a toilet, except that had a hatch so the can sealed the capsule to keep the gasses from spreding outside, so they tryed with different types of hazardous ways to egnite the toilet with a cigaret of open flame, they tryed hair spray, bug spray and so on, (regular household stuff) they even used gasoline, and dropped the cigarret to the toilet, and it didn't exploded... the only thing that indeed egnited, was regular gunpowder, and only with 5 matches taped together.... so no way that case can get money to that guy! Then, they tried it on a "portable putty" and not even with methane (because of the chemicals added to the water) it did not exploded!

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Last night I was watching an old episode of Discovery Channel's MYTHBUSTERS and they were testing with different ways to egnite toilets.

They build a plexy glass capsule, with the normal size of a bathroom, with the tub, the sink, and of course a toilet, except that had a  hatch so the can sealed the capsule to keep the gasses from spreding outside, so they tryed with different types of hazardous ways to egnite the toilet with a cigaret of open flame, they tryed hair spray, bug spray and so on, (regular household stuff) they even used gasoline, and dropped the cigarret to the toilet, and it didn't exploded... the only thing that indeed egnited, was regular gunpowder, and only with 5 matches taped together.... so no way that case can get money to that guy! Then, they tried it on a "portable putty" and not even with methane (because of the chemicals added to the water) it did not exploded!

586010711[/snapback]

Yea that must have been a rerun, cause I seen that some time ago too. I seen this story on Headline news today around 1pm central time and had a pretty good laugh. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I wouldn't smoke in one just in case. It's just not to smart..and I doubt he'll get anything either. Btw, that Mythbusters is a good show to watch. They blow stuff up :D

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Wow, I live in Morgantown (Monongalia Co.). Didn't hear about this before though. Just another stupid lawsuit. I'm suprised someone hasn't sewed for getting pushed over while being inside a port-a-john before. Hell, they probably have. :no:

Now wait a minute, I just reread the article and saw this

methane power plant operator

You're telling me this guy operates machinery that is used around methane and he wasn't smart enough to leave the area before using an open flame?? :whistle:

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... Smoking cigarettes in a methane power plant is a bad idea? Who knew?

586010352[/snapback]

Yea...really... My sig definitly applies to this story... :shifty:

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