Harris County jury awards $61.5 million in Watson Grinding explosion case

A Harris County jury awarded $61.6 million to a group of West Houston residents in the Watson Grinding explosion litigation and found 3M 30% responsible for the 2020 blast. The verdict is the third jury win for community members in four trials tied to the disaster, with nearly 2,000 residents still waiting for trial.

Why it matters: - The verdict adds another major liability finding tied to the January 24, 2020 Watson Grinding explosion in West Houston. - The Harris County jury found 3M Company 30% responsible for the blast. - The award totals $61,578,273.19 for a randomly assigned group of residents affected by the explosion. - The decision is the third jury verdict in favor of community members in four trials involving 3M. - Nearly 2,000 additional residents are still awaiting trial.

What happened: - A Harris County jury returned the verdict on Aug. 10, 2026. - The case involved residents affected by the January 24, 2020 Watson Grinding explosion. - The trial ran for five weeks in Harris County. - The Kwok Daniel trial team led the case, working with Will Moye of Moye Law Firm and Adam Lewis of Arnold & Itkin.

The details: - Trial testimony focused on 3M’s knowledge of problems with the gas-detection system at Watson Grinding in the years before the explosion. - The gas-detection system was intended to warn of a catastrophic release that could endanger workers and nearby residents. - The January 24, 2020 explosion killed three people. - The blast injured residents and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in surrounding neighborhoods. - Many residents were displaced from their homes, including some during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Other residents dealt with insurance shortfalls, higher construction costs and supply shortages while rebuilding. - More than 1,000 residents ultimately retained Kwok Daniel in connection with the disaster. - Kwok Daniel filed the first lawsuit arising from the explosion and won early court relief to preserve evidence and secure access to the Watson Grinding site. - The litigation later expanded to more than 2,000 claimants. - The legal fight also included bankruptcy proceedings, multidistrict litigation, more than 150 depositions, settlements with other defendants and multiple jury trials. - A Plaintiffs Steering Committee was formed to coordinate the litigation. - A settlement process was later developed for claims involving settling defendants. - Kwok Daniel assisted displaced clients with housing and handled first-party insurance claims without charging attorney fees so clients could use insurance proceeds to rebuild.

Between the lines: - The verdict suggests the jury accepted evidence that 3M had prior knowledge of problems tied to a key safety system at the site. - The litigation has become a long-running mass tort case with multiple trial tracks and a large remaining plaintiff group. - The repeated jury wins may increase pressure on 3M and other defendants as more cases move toward trial. - The families’ rebuilding costs were compounded by pandemic disruption and inflation in construction-related expenses.

What's next: - Another randomly assigned group of plaintiffs is scheduled for trial in October 2026. - The broader January 24, 2020 Explosion multidistrict litigation remains ongoing under Cause No. 2020-05505-A. - The next trial date is set for October 2026 with 50 community member plaintiffs. - More than 1,000 families linked to the disaster are still part of the wider effort to recover damages.

The bottom line: - Harris County juries keep assigning substantial fault to 3M in the Watson Grinding explosion litigation, and the next round of trials is already on the calendar.