Maine Paper Mill That Was Site of Explosion Sues Inspection Firm

The owner of a paper mill in Maine that was the site of an explosion last year has filed a lawsuit against a company that was responsible for inspection and maintenance.

One of the facility’s pulp digesters ruptured and fell on the second digester in April 2020. Both were destroyed. The mill then shut down a paper machine and doesn’t plan to rebuild its pulp mill.

The mill’s owner, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, is suing Florida-based Trico Mechanical Contractors Inc., the Sun Journal reported. Court documents state that Pixelle wants to cover losses and damages sustained due to “defendant Trico’s wrongful acts and omissions and pursuant to applicable contractual agreements.”

Trico was responsible for inspection and maintenance on the pulp digesters in the years before the explosion. A person who answered the phone at Trico said there was no one available to comment on the lawsuit.