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Ford-Rouge Complex a Public Nuisance, New Lawsuit Alleges

10 February 2000

Mantese Miller and Mantese: Ford-Rouge Complex a Public Nuisance, New Lawsuit Alleges

        Family of Killed Worker Asks, 'What About Eddie James Taylor?'

    DETROIT, Feb. 10 -- The following was released by Mantese
Miller and Mantese P.L.L.C.:

    The Estate of Eddie James Taylor today filed a wrongful death action
against Ford Motor Company and Rouge Steel Company in Wayne County Circuit
Court.  Mr. Taylor was killed as a result of a horrific explosion at the Ford-
Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan on August 4, 1996.  The lawsuit claims,
among other things, that Rouge Steel and Ford entered into a Joint Operating
Agreement in which they jointly own and maintain the powerhouse, electric
distribution lines, power substations, and steam generating and distribution
equipment which caused the explosion and led to Mr. Taylor's fatal injuries.
The lawsuit was assigned to Circuit Court Judge Louis Simmons.
    Eddie James Taylor, a Rouge Steel employee for 20 years, was working as a
pitman at one of the mills in the Ford-Rouge Complex when a steam pipe he was
working near exploded.  He suffered serious burns over large areas of his
body.  The force of the explosion also threw Mr. Taylor off of a ladder he was
working on, causing him to plummet to the ground, cracking his skull, and
causing severe closed-head and other injuries.  Although Mr. Taylor survived
the accident, he anguished for nearly two years with severe mental and
physical injuries, which destroyed his personality and devastated his quality
of life.  Finally, on July 11, 1998, as a result of the injuries, Mr. Taylor
became dizzy, fell, and died.
    The attorney for the family, Gerard Mantese of the Troy firm, Mantese
Miller and Mantese, stated, "This is another tragic case of a worker losing
his life while, working in deplorable conditions."  Last year, Mr. Mantese
filed three lawsuits on behalf of workers injured in the highly publicized
Ford-Rouge plant explosion on February 1, 1999 that killed six workers and
injured many others.  Ford ultimately settled all of the claims by paying in
excess of $30 million.  Mr. Mantese stated, "Eddie Taylor gave his life for
his work.  He deserves no less from Ford Motor Company and Rouge Steel than
the workers who died in the February 1, 1999 explosion."
    The lawsuit also seeks a court ruling that the power plant which generated
the steam causing the explosion and which claimed Mr. Taylor's life, is a
public nuisance.  The widespread danger of the Powerhouse has resulted in
numerous deaths and explosions in the last year alone.
    The suit also claims that Rouge Steel is liable because of its deliberate
rejection of safety upgrades at the Complex.  It alleges that safety hazards
at the Complex were well known to Ford and Rouge, but went ignored.  The
lawsuit also claims that Eddie Taylor was required to work under circumstances
where his safety was deemed to be of no consequence; and that his supervisor
did not provide him with proper safety equipment while he was working near the
volatile steam pipes.