Chicago (June 1, 2012): David C. Wise, partner in noted Chicago plaintiffs' law firm Wise Law Offices LLC, announced that the firm has filed a motion for discovery in the Circuit Court of Cook County to identify and preserve evidence relating to a fatal May 22, 2012 explosion at the Arens Control engineering and test facility in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Mr. Wise filed the motion as legal counsel to the surviving family of Arens Control engineer Neil Nicholson, who was killed in the blast. Nicholson was the only fatality in the explosion, which also injured 10 other persons.
"At this point we have not filed a lawsuit against any party on behalf of the late Mr. Nicholson's wife and son, but we have named Arens Control and multiple other companies that made equipment potentially involved in the accident as respondents in our motion," Mr. Wise said. "The goal of this action, as experts engaged by these companies and our own firm and inspectors from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration inspect the scene, is to ensure that all evidence and records are preserved for and accessible by our firm. This will enable us to determine at a later date if we will initiate litigation seeking damages on behalf of the victim and his surviving family."
The May 22 explosion at Arens Control involved a test of hydrogen-on-demand (HOD) technology developed by NRG Logistics LLC of Oak Brook, IL. The technology, which aims to improve fuel economy of heavy-duty diesel engines, was being tested in a supercooled test chamber manufactured by SPX Thermal Product Solutions. An electrical charge possibly ignited hydrogen gas in the vicinity of the test, in which Mr. Nicholson was participating, leading to the explosion. Such issues as the cause of the charge, the functioning of the test chamber, and the operation of other HOD units in the test area are all under investigation.
"Wise Law Offices LLC has a mechanical engineer and cause & origin engineer on-site, and also is using an industrial hygienist, to conduct our own investigations," Mr. Wise stated. "Their findings, as well as the information uncovered by our motion for discovery, will form the basis for any future identification of liability and decision to seek damages for our clients."
Mr. Wise, a founding member of Wise Law Offices LLC, has resolved over 200 cases in many areas of personal injury law. He has been recognized by Illinois Leading Lawyers Network and Illinois Super Lawyers as one of the state's top personal injury attorneys. Wise Law Offices LLC has for nearly 20 years represented victims of negligence and their families in a wide range of liability litigation. The firm's broad knowledge, and extensive trial and mediation experience, have been instrumental in verdicts and settlements for clients valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
For information contact David C. Wise
