A Michigan man who lost both hands in a 2022 explosion at a Kroger supermarket in Bloomfield Township has been awarded a record-breaking $76.7 million by an Oakland County jury.
Brian Mierendorf, a 37-year-old pipefitter and HVAC technician, suffered severe chemical burns and injection injuries when a defective refrigeration system malfunctioned, releasing the toxic chemical R-22, banned by the EPA in 2020.
The explosion occurred as Mierendorf attempted to shield customers from the leak. Despite 25 surgeries, his hands could not be saved.
His attorney, Jon Marko, called the verdict “bittersweet,” noting that no amount can restore Mierendorf’s hands or his ability to work.
The judgment, one of Michigan’s largest non-medical awards, follows Kroger’s failure to conduct proper inspections or produce a timely incident report.
Mierendorf faces a lifelong recovery from the devastating injuries.
Click on Detroit: Man who lost hands in explosion at Oakland County Kroger gets record judgement
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