06/22/2009

Associated Press

A St. Joseph pork processor has sued three insurance companies for refusing to pay victims of a 2005 gas explosion.

Triumph Foods agreed to pay $1.25 million of a $12.25 million court settlement with the families of 20 workers injured or killed in the accident at the St. Joseph plant.

The rest of the amount is being paid by Missouri Gas Energy and two construction contractors.

The lawsuit, filed in Buchanan County, claims Hartford Casualty Insurance Company refused to cover Triumph's portion. Hartford, however, says it doesn't have to pay until two other insurers have exhausted their coverage.

Liberty Mutual Insurance and St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance are also named in the suit.

The explosion was caused by an uncapped gas line during the plant's construction.

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Information from: St. Joseph News-Press, http://www.stjoenews-press.com