Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Harris County, Texas, on behalf of the family of an oilfield worker killed at a Chevron-operated drilling site near Jal, New Mexico. According to the petition, the worker died on May 16, 2026, when a hydraulic catwalk activated without warning and crushed him. He leaves behind a spouse and four minor children.
The lawsuit names five defendants—Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Forum Energy Technologies, Inc., Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC, Signal Safety Services, Inc., and Ally Consulting, LLC—each on a distinct legal theory. The petition alleges that the hydraulic catwalk, manufactured by Houston-based Forum Energy Technologies, was defectively designed and manufactured, and it activated after contact with a pedestal, giving the worker no opportunity to move clear. Chevron, as site operator, and Ally Consulting, which placed a superintendent on location, allegedly failed to maintain a safe worksite. Signal Safety Services provided wellsite safety consultants to the location as well. The petition further claims that the worker's employer, Patterson-UTI, acted with gross negligence and intentional conduct that contributed to his death.
Jal sits in Lea County on the Texas border, inside the Permian Basin: one of the most dangerous oilfield corridors in the country. According to CDC data, nearly 40 percent of all oilfield fatalities nationwide occur in the Permian, and oilfield workers face a fatality rate roughly seven times the national average across all occupations. Struck-by and caught-between accidents, the category that covers crush injuries from mechanized equipment like hydraulic catwalks, remain among the leading causes of those deaths.
"A wife lost her husband and four children lost their father because of the unsafe actions taken by people out there," said Matt Greenberg, co-founding attorney at Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers. "Cases like this one aren't usually about one single company, or even a single mistake. Our job is to find out exactly where the system broke down and to make sure this family is not left to carry the cost of it alone."
Greenberg Streich's attorneys have years of experience litigating catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims against oilfield operators, drilling contractors, and equipment manufacturers, including a $20 million result in an oilfield burn injury case. The firm represents oilfield injury and wrongful death victims throughout Texas and in cases connected to Texas-based defendants.
For business and technology leaders, this case underscores the critical importance of equipment safety and operational oversight in high-risk industries. Hydraulic catwalks and similar mechanized systems are common in drilling operations, and failures can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The lawsuit highlights potential liability across the supply chain—from manufacturers to operators to safety consultants—emphasizing that all parties must prioritize rigorous safety protocols and equipment testing. As the Permian Basin continues to drive U.S. energy production, the industry faces ongoing pressure to reduce fatality rates and improve safety standards, particularly for caught-between and struck-by hazards.
The allegations described above come from the petition filed with the court. They are allegations, not findings of fact. A Texas court will decide the merits of the case.
