Federal judge sends case against Hornady Manufacturing back to Grand Island court
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - A federal court has returned a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Hornady Manufacturing and three related companies to Hall County District Court.
Adriana Alvarez was killed in October 2023 when a primer exploded during a mixing process at the manufacturer’s facility, where she worked.
Just over a year later, her spouse, Michaela Alvarez, filed the wrongful death lawsuit in Hall County District Court against Hornady Manufacturing Company, Platte Valley Energetics, LLC, Training and Consulting, LLC and New Lachaussee S.A.
In May, New Lachaussee S.A. asked that the case be moved to U.S. District Court in Lincoln, arguing the lawsuit involves alleged violations of federal safety laws and should therefore be heard in federal court.
U.S. District Court records show on Nov. 17, a federal judge remanded the case to the Hall County District Court. The judge ruled in part that the company’s argument about federal safety laws did not justify federal jurisdiction over the case.
On Monday, New Lachaussee filed a motion in district court to dismiss the claims against it, arguing that Alvarez’s complaint is not clear about whether she was employed by New Lachaussee or by Hornady and Platte Valley Energetics. As of Thursday afternoon, no hearing on that motion had been scheduled in district court.
In the original lawsuit, Machaela Alvarez requested monetary damages “in an amount in excess of $50,000,” and other damages which may be awarded by the court.
