MOORHEAD (KFGO-AM) -- A man who was severely burned while working at the American Crystal Sugar plant in East Grand Forks has filed a lawsuit that accuses the company of negligence.
Kevin Birnbaum was a contract worker at the plant when the accident happened during an employee lockout in Jan. 2013. A complaint filed in Clay County District Court says Birnbaum suffered severe second and third-degree burns when he was sprayed with scalding beet juice.
Birnbaum is also seeking damages against Wanzek Construction, as the designer and manufacturer of the equipment. Court documents say American Crystal negotiated to pay a $10,000 fine to the Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry.
The complaint says Birnbaum's losses are estimated to exceed $2.5 million. American Crystal has yet to file an answer to the lawsuit.