New Fly Over + AIG Lawsuit Tossed + Friday News

AIG’s Sinkhole Coverage Suit Belongs In La., Judge Rules

Law360, New York  — A Texas federal judge on Wednesday tossed a suit brought by two American International Group Inc. units claiming they have no duty to cover salt producer Texas Brine Co. in litigation over the company’s alleged responsibility for a 2012 Louisiana sinkhole, finding the case would be better heard by Louisiana courts.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt ruled that Louisiana state and federal courts should have jurisdiction over National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., and American International Specialty Lines Insurance Co.’s coverage action . . .  (subscription)

Someone’s throwing cherry bombs off a boat around LA10 – nothing shows on the bottom borehole. Quake Watch graph showed big fuzz at LA 10-01 yesterday … then it stopped around 2 a.m. Thursday.

There’s a 5.0 quake at Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala – it’s on the Pacific side of Central America < MAP
There have been a lot of quakes in that area in recent weeks.

The Advocate – Williams Olefins faces fines, suits, probes a year after blast

[snip] . . . “The plant, which is expected to restart operations at the end of the month, and plant processes were the focus of close examination to guide the new improvements and training for employees. . . ”  [how about management and CEOs???]
” . . . New allegations have also emerged this year in the civil suits claiming that Williams officials were warned three times since 2006 by the company’s own safety consultants and an internal audit three months before the blast about equipment settings that may have prevented the explosion.
The reports suggest that a certain type of relief valve on the reboiler that ruptured should have been left open to avoid a major failure, one suit claims.
“Yet, management, over and over, while in Iberville Parish, refused to take basic steps that would prevent the equipment involved in the explosion from over pressurizing,” an amended lawsuit from 76 plaintiffs filed in Iberville Parish on Jan. 2 claims. . . ”  — great reporting by David J. Mitchell.

Watch the failed ‘old’ south berm:

LINK –  http://youtu.be/lv7_mAnuaJg

Original south berm now going the way of  the old west berm – deep 6!

And the SOUTH EAST CORNER of the new-new south berm doesn’t look good!
See 1:38 mark –

Video just posted . . .

Protect yourself from mosquitoes! Tennessee Department of Health confirms state’s First Chikungunya Case