Consolidated Aluminum Corp. v. C. F. Bean Corp. - U.S. Court of Appeals (5th Circuit) (Thornberry, Reavley & Politz C.JJ.) - 3 December 1987

Negligence by dredging company - foreseeability of damage

The defendants were dredging the Calcasieu River Ship Channel near Lake Charles, Louisiana, pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Corps. of Engineers. The contract warned the defendants of Texaco’s 12 inch high pressure natural gas pipeline, which traversed the channel to service a nearby PPG Industries Inc. plant. As a result of the dredging crew’s negligence, the dredge’s cutterhead struck and ruptured the Texaco pipeline, allowing the escape of a large amount of gas.