Tequila Factory Explosion Claims Five Workers

Mexican officials said at least five workers were killed in an explosion and fire at Casa Cuervo distillery in the town of Tequila, Jalisco state.
Two others were injured in the incident on Tuesday.
“The incident involved the explosion of a tank car,” Jalisco’s civil protection agency said, adding that the fire ignited three additional tank cars, each with a capacity of 219,000 liters, CNN reported.
The incident preceded National Tequila Day in both Mexico and the United States on Wednesday.
The distillery tour is a top-rated activity in the town, according to Tripadvisor. There was no word on the status of tours in the wake of the incident.
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Last Friday’s global computer outage has left some retired 9/11 first responders without their workers’ compensation checks.
As of Tuesday, workers’ compensation payments for EMS members due to have been directly deposited had still not gone through, according to union officials.
The payments range from $700 to $900.
The New York State comptroller’s office has been fielding scores of phone calls about the Workman’s Compensation Division’s failure to make the payments, according to the New York Post.
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In a National Law Review podcast posted Tuesday, Ogletree, Deakins’ attorneys Frank D. Davis and John Surma discussed “hot topics” on whistleblower issues ahead of the OSHA Dallas region’s Whistleblower Day scheduled for July 30.
The attorneys highlight the importance of understanding the nuances of the 25 whistleblower statutes enforced by OSHA, emphasizing that the agency’s Whistleblower Manual, while a helpful guide, does not carry the weight of law.
They also stress the importance of meticulous documentation in employee discipline cases to defend against whistleblower claims.
Davis and Surma discuss the challenges of navigating settlement agreements with OSHA, noting that the agency often insists on using its own less-favorable template and may seek to influence the terms of separate agreements.
Finally, the attorneys underscore the importance of identifying the primary decision-maker in a whistleblower case and preparing them thoroughly for potential interviews with OSHA investigators.
LISTEN HERE

OSHA specialist Jenny DePonte has switched law firms, moving to a partner position at Brown Fox from Jackson Lewis.
She previously held assistant attorney general positions in both the Texas Office of the Attorney General and Virgin Islands Office of the Attorney General.
Her work is focused on OSHA, EEOC, TWC and DOL investigations and litigation, according to her new firm.
DePonte was recognized as a 2024 Best Lawyer for Employment Law–Management.
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