AERLEX

Four workers, who survived the 1985 fireworks factory explosion, won a $3 million court judgment last Monday against the Aerlex Corporation.

Tulsa Distruct Judge Robert Scott awarded the default judgment since no Aerlex officials appeared for the scheduled trial of two lawsuits filed by family members of the explosion.

John Nicks, a Tulsa attorney representing the families, expects the judgment to go uncollected since the Aerlex Corp. "has no money."

A Fort Worth lawyer, said last week, the president of Aerlex, Richard A. Johnson, formerly of Terlton (now working in Fort Worth) would not be attending the trial to present a defense, Nicks said.

A total of 21 people were killed in the June 25 explosion that destroyed the fireworks factory near Jennings.

Scott granted a judgment of $750,000 per victim in the deaths of plant employees Virginia Blair, Shirley Burgess, Gayla Jo Burgess and Nancy Beeler.

A default judgment can be granted when a defendant in a civil case has been properly summoned but fails to offer a defense or appear for trial.

Evidence was presented by Nicks to support his allegations that the four workers were killed because of negligence on Aerlex's part. To support their claims for money damages, the family members testified about the mental anguish and emotional suffering they experienced because of the deaths.

Nicks claims the Jennings plant was set up by OK Fireworks so that they would have access to a manufacturer.