Workplace Injuries

The American worker is the backbone of our country's economic success. Championing the rights of workers in the courtroom is our job -- and one we take very seriously.

Watts Law Firm represents thousands of welders incapacitated by manganese poisoning from their welding rods. We tried one of the first of these cutting-edge cases to reach a jury in the United States. The firm has also successfully represented victims of exposure to asbestos, achieving a significant settlement during trial.

We have also represented hundreds of victims of refinery explosions, environmental contamination and other catastrophic injuries caused in the workplace. When a poorly-maintained refinery vessel exploded, seriously burning three men working at the plant, they called Watts Law Firm seeking justice. Within 16 months, we had their case in court, and a jury awarded them the largest actual damages verdict against a refinery in Texas history. We have also represented workers injured in refinery and jobsite accidents across the United States. When one of our clients was burned over 95% of his body, we were called to find out why. Watts sued the designer of the failed industrial ventilation system, which had allowed combustible dust to accumulate. He secured an unprecedented admission from the product's design engineer that the system was "designed negligently" and was "defective and unreasonably dangerous." Days later, our client received an eight-figure settlement.

In January 2003, two different workplace explosions occurred along the Gulf Coast. Near Alvin, Texas, several men were killed and others were seriously burned. In less than 15 months, Watts Law Firm and others completed a massive investigation involving over 50 depositions and had the case ready for trial. At the courthouse steps, we were able to settle the case for the victims.

At the same time, our firm achieved speedy justice for two welders killed near an Ingleside marine fabrication site. In less than six months, their families recovered $15,000,000*. *Kiewit: Attorney Fees: $2,080,000; Expenses: $168,053.11

Watts Law Firm has also handled several construction accident cases. We obtained settlements for a worker who fell through the roof of a building under construction, for a woman assaulted by a co-worker, and monies for the family of an oilfield worker killed when a crane malfunctioned.