Lawyer presses case in Danvers explosion

02.11.09

By Kathy McCabe and John Ellement, Sphere Staff

A lawyer for residents whose homes were damaged in the colossal explosion in Danvers three years ago says that a Kentucky-based chemical attendance delivered a tanker of chemicals to an ink and paint factory, contributing to an inferno that destroyed or damaged scarcely 100 homes and businesses.

Lawyer Jan Schlichtmann, in a plain meeting today with Danvers town officials, said a hand for Ashland Inc., based in Covington, Ky., also participated in innards up the 2,000 cqgallon mixing tank that overheated centre the CAI/Arnel factory, causing an explosion that nearly flattened the Danversport neighborhood.

"We conjecture this was part of a routine practice," Schlichtmann said of the employee's actions. "That makes it especially egregious. It was an explosion waiting to happen."

In a statement, Ashland said it has bears no duty for the Nov. 22, 2006 explosion, one of the state's worst industrial accidents. "Ashland has devoted sympathy for the people in Danversport," the company said in a announcement. "However, as independent investigations have already determined, Ashland played no r in that event."

Source: Boston Globe