Well Explosion Yields 14.9 Million Dollar Award

John Stapleton, 19, died in 2002 when he backed his car into a natural gas wellhead that was unfenced and unprotected.  The wellhead exploded and John burned to death.  In 2006 a Santa Fe jury determined that the oil and gas company – Energen Resources Corporation – was negligent and it’s conduct was reckless in John’s death.

That determination was upheld by the state Court of Appeals.  The court rejected Energen’s contention that the award was excessive and therefore unconstitutional.

Energen “knew that there was a hazard of someone colliding with the wellhead, knew that if that happened serious bodily harm or death could result, knew that the well site was in a highly traveled area, knew that erecting a barricade or fence would prevent the hazard, and still chose not to barricade the well site,” the court said.

John’s family was awarded 1.9 million dollars in compensatory damages and 13 million in punitive damages.  Until the accident in 2002 Energen had taken no action to protect this wellhead nor about 1000 others it owns in the San Juan Basin.  The judges said this showed a reckless disregard for public safety and  the 13 million dollar punitive damages is appropriate to achieve the dual goals of punishment and deterrence in this case.”

The family of Cody Amezcua, 20, a second person killed in the explosion, settled its lawsuit before trial for an undisclosed amount.