Nebraska court orders ConAgra to pay $108.9m for North Carolina plant explosion

US-based food company ConAgra has to pay $108.9m in a civil lawsuit over a fatal explosion at its North Carolina plant in 2009.

The jury of Douglas County District Court in Nebraska found the Omaha-based company of being ‘negligent’ in the explosion at its Slim Jim processing plant, reported Omaha World-Herald.

The explosion was caused by a natural gas leak that occurred during the installation of a water heater at the plant in Garner, North Carolina. The incident killed four people and injured several others.

ConAgra spokesman Dan Hare was quoted by Omaha World-Herald as saying: "While we respect the jury’s decision, we have several strong grounds for appeal, which we plan to pursue."

The lawsuit was originally drawn against the US-based architecture firm Jacobs Engineering that was contracted by ConAgra to perform services at the plant.

The Californian architecture company initially paid $108m to settle the lawsuit.

Jacobs Engineering later claimed to be innocent in the explosion and sued ConAgra to recover the money, reported The Associated Press.

The jury at Douglas County District Court found Jacobs Engineering not guilty, while finding ConAgra at fault.

Jacob Engineering lead trial lawyer with the Baker Hostetler firm of Washington, DC, Gil Keteltas was quoted by Omaha World-Herald as saying: "We are grateful for the court’s and the jury’s time and dedication to this case, and that our client Jacobs Engineering was vindicated after seven years."

The present lawsuit seems to be the largest of its kind in the history of Nebraska.