Family Files Suit Over Blast That Killed Rocketdyne Worker
The family of a Rocketdyne employee killed last July in an explosion at the company’s Simi Valley laboratory filed a $25-million federal lawsuit Tuesday against the company and several of its workers.
Otto Heiney’s wife and children allege that the aerospace firm improperly handled and disposed of hazardous waste, leading to the July 26, 1994, explosion at the 2,700-acre Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Simi Valley Hills.
In January, the state of California fined Rocketdyne $202,500 for four serious worker safety violations that led to the explosion that killed Heiney and fellow physicist Larry Pugh.
In the aftermath of the accident, the company contended that it was doing rocket fuel testing at the site. Its investigators theorized that a container of a rocket fuel component exploded when it was placed in an area that was still hot from a previous burn.
Nearly two weeks ago, FBI agents led a raid in seizing various documents from Rocketdyne.
The government is reportedly looking into whether the rocket fuel testing was a cover-up to hide the explosive, illegal disposal of hazardous waste.
The family says that some of the defendants are being prosecuted in connection with the accident for allegedly violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
A Rockwell spokesman declined comment.
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