Firm partner Ryan Zehl of Zehl & Associates was interviewed by several Oklahoma and Texas media outlets after filing a lawsuit on behalf of an injured contractor alleging that a deadly fire at the Valero refinery in Ardmore was caused by gross negligence and a failure to follow safety regulations, rather than being a mere accident. 

The February 9, 2026, incident resulted in one death and four injuries when hydrocarbons ignited during maintenance.  

“The law requires operators and contractors to identify and correct against hazards, to correct deficiencies and to prioritize safety over production and profit,” Zehl said on social media. “When that doesn’t happen in a very volatile and potentially dangerous environment like an industrial plant or a refinery, the workers are inevitably and tragically the ones who pay the price. And that is what we are seeing here.” 

Read more coverage here:

Lawsuit filed against Valero refinery after Ardmore explosion kills 1, injures 4 contractors 

Lawsuit pending after Valero fire kills one, hospitalizes four 

Contractor suing Valero after deadly Ardmore refinery fire 

1 dead, 4 injured in Ardmore Valero refinery fire; injured worker plans lawsuit over safety concerns 

Attorney intends to file lawsuit in Valero fire: OSHA has up to six months to complete investigation