Project contractor sues Gonzales

• By DAVID J. MITCHELL
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Nov 24, 2009 - Page: 4B

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GONZALES — A demolition contractor has sued the city over a job that led to a propane gas leak in May 2008 at an old city well and water-treatment site.

Louisiana State Police cited contractor Donald Dauzat, of Gonzales, on civil charges of reckless handling of hazardous materials, failure to report a hazardous materials release and failure to request a dig permit, said Trooper Russell Graham II, Troop A spokesman, in an e-mail.

Firefighters, State Police, the state Department of Environmental Quality and the Ascension Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness responded on May 8 and May 9, 2008, to the leak on Black Bayou Road.

A section of Black Bayou was closed for 21 hours as officials cleaned up and flared off the released gas.

Jean Kelly, DEQ spokeswoman, said Thursday the responders also found overturned drums suspected of containing fluoride.

Filed Oct. 16 in 23rd Judicial District Court, Dauzat’s suit claims he was placed in a dangerous situation by city officials because they did not tell him what was on the site.

The breach-of-contract suit seeks payment for his $4,000 city bid, $5,820 in attorney’s fees to deal with the civil citations and a $4,500 fine.

Plaintiff’s attorney Timothy Pujol also claimed the job was not even bid as a hazardous materials job, which his client would not have done.

The 23rd Judicial District covers Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes.

City Attorney Ryland Percy III said in a recent interview the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Pujol said Dauzat ended up settling with State Police, agreed to pay a reduced fine but did not admit liability.

Dauzat’s suit claims city officials told him a propane tank on the grounds was empty and did not tell him about hazardous material on the ground.

Alvin Broussard, director of the city Department of Public Works, told Dauzat a building and adjoining facilities were empty, the suit alleges.