Executive Summary
- A wrongful death lawsuit claims negligence by Valero Energy and UPS Industrial Services caused a fatal refinery fire.
- Jesse Biscamp of Jasper, Texas, died from injuries sustained in the February 9, 2026, incident in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
- Attorneys allege OSHA violations and have requested a Temporary Restraining Order to preserve evidence at the site.
- The plaintiffs are seeking both compensatory and exemplary damages for the estate and surviving family members.
HOUSTON — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed regarding the death of a Jasper, Texas, man who died following a fire at the Valero Refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The legal action, initiated by the firms Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner and Morian Kahla Attorneys at Law, names Valero Energy Corporation, Valero Refining-Texas, L.P., and UPS Industrial Services, LLC as defendants.
According to the petition filed in court, the decedent, Jesse Biscamp, was working for UPS Industrial Services at the Valero refinery on February 9, 2026, when a fire erupted at the facility. The complaint states that Biscamp suffered severe injuries during the incident and passed away on February 11, 2026. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Biscamp’s widow, his minor child, his estate, and his parents.
The plaintiffs allege that the named defendants failed to provide a safe workplace, did not adequately train or supervise workers, and failed to warn personnel of dangerous conditions. The lawsuit further asserts that the defendants violated applicable safety standards, including regulations enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The family is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages, alleging the defendants acted with conscious indifference to worker safety.
Alongside the primary petition, the attorneys have requested a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to preserve critical evidence, including equipment involved in the fire and related maintenance records. Attorney Mo Aziz expressed concerns regarding the transparency of the investigation. "Valero has restricted access to evidence by unilaterally moving inspection dates and limiting what equipment our experts can bring on site to conduct our investigation," Aziz stated. "Each stakeholder must get equal access to the evidence."
Litigation and Investigative Protocols
The request for a Temporary Restraining Order underscores the vital role of evidence preservation in complex industrial accident litigation. In the aftermath of refinery incidents, securing physical evidence and data logs is a standard procedural step to allow forensic experts to independently determine the cause of the failure. As the case proceeds, the legal focus will likely examine the liability distribution between the facility owners and third-party contractors regarding safety compliance. It is important to note that the claims outlined in the lawsuit are allegations and liability has not yet been established in a court of law.
