A MAJOR retailer is forced to shell out millions to a heroic repairman who rushed to save customers after an explosion.
A lawsuit concluded with an HVAC technician receiving an award exceeding $75 million after enduring significant injuries and losing the majority of his fingers due to a chemical explosion at a Kroger store in Detroit, Michigan.
In February 2022, a defective refrigerant erupted at the store. Brian Mierendorf, attempting to protect nearby shoppers by halting the refrigerant’s flow, suffered injuries in the process, as described by his lawyer, Jon Marko.
The blast released a harmful chemical known as R-22, a type of refrigerant, which is also used in some home air conditioning systems, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The agency had begun phasing the chemical out in 2010 before banning its production and import in 2020, reported manufacturing company Trane.
However, Mierendorf’s hands were injected with the toxic chemical, according to a news release from his lawyer.
Since 2022, Mierendorf has had 25 surgeries to try and save his hands.
He and his wife, Heather, were awarded by an Oakland County jury on June 17 in what Marko called a “record-breaking verdict” against Kroger.
The couple was awarded both economic and non-economic losses from the time of the incident and through several years, according to the verdict form.
“Kroger had a ticking time bomb in its store at Bloomfield Township, waiting to blow,” said Marko in the release.
“Unfortunately, it blew up on Brian, and he lost his hands trying to save other people in the store from toxic chemicals being sprayed out in the middle of the day in front of the meat department.
“At trial, Kroger’s defense was to blame Brian for his heroic actions. The verdict sends a clear message to Kroger that Brian’s actions should be commended, and that Brian literally gave up his hands in the line of duty at the expense of himself and his family is priceless.”
According to Marko, the jury’s award is believed to be the largest premises liability verdict in the state.
TERRIFYING EXPLOSION
The incident happened on February 1, 2022, when Mierendorf was told to come to Kroger to work on the refrigeration lines, according to a complaint filed on Mierendorf’s behalf in February 2024.
While working, a refrigeration line began spraying liquid refrigerant into the store, read the complaint.
Mierendorf tried to stop the spraying, but there wasn’t a shutoff valve nearby.
Meanwhile the pressure was too high, and the refrigerant was pouring out at a high volume.
His left hand froze to the refrigeration line while trying to cap it, according to the complaint.
Mierendorf tried to break free from the line, but couldn’t.
“The refrigerant was pouring out at such a rate that Plaintiff could barely breath(e) as he attempted to break his hand free from the pipe,” read the complaint.
“Ultimately, Plaintiff was able to break free from the pipe but sustained serious and grievous injuries.”
As a result, Mierendorf suffered severe chemical burns and the amputation and partial amputation of multiple fingers.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Kroger for comment.
