The estate of a man killed when a train transporting dozens of rail cars of oil exploded in Quebec is suing dozens of rail and oil companies along the supply chain.
Sandy Bedard, as administrator of the estate of Michel Guertin Jr., filed a complaint June 25 in Cook County Circuit Court dozens of businesses, alleging negligence, wrongful death and strict liability.
According to the complaint, on June 29, 2013, a volatile crude oil was stored on 72 tanker cars in New Town, N.D., and shipped throughout metropolitan areas of North America. On July 6, 2013, the lawsuit states, nearing the destination of St. John, New Brunswick, "the tanker cars left unattended overnight, rolled downhill 7 1/2 miles and derailed in the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec." The suit says the unsafe tanker cars ruptured, the crude oil within exploded and fireballs engulfed the town center. Forty-seven people died as a result, including the plaintiff's decedent, Michel Guertin Jr., the suit says.
Each of the defendants is cited with being part of the oil's supply chain.
Sandy Bedard seeks damages of more than $1 million, plus costs, from each defendant. He is represented by attorney Peter J. Flowers, of Meyers & Flowers in St. Charles.