BEAUMONT, Texas — A month after a Buna contractor was electrocuted at Motiva’s Port Arthur refinery , new court filings show the company is mounting an aggressive defense, arguing the worker’s own actions played a key role in the incident.

Motiva’s legal response, filed this month in Jefferson County’s 58th District Court, claims 32-year-old Hayden Christopher “failed to exercise ordinary care for his own safety.” The company further denies controlling the work site or knowing about any danger that led to Christopher’s death.

His family filed suit in October through Beaumont attorney Brent Coon, seeking at least $1 million in damages for negligence and gross negligence. The lawsuit now names Newtron Beaumont, LLC as a second defendant.

Christopher was working for the Louisiana-based e

See Full Page