Chris Yvars (Partner-Denver) obtained summary judgment in a wrongful death explosion case before the District Court, Arapahoe County, Colorado. The plaintiff is the young daughter and heir of the decedent, who was killed in a violent explosion that occurred while he was using an acetylene torch to cut a piece of scrap metal while working at our client’s recycling facility as an employee of a torching subcontractor. Excessive heat from the decedent's torch caused compressed air in one of the components to rapidly expand and explode the surrounding metal, killing him instantly. The plaintiff collected workers' compensation death benefits from the subcontractor's insurer and, through her legal guardian, then sued our client for wrongful death based in negligence and under Colorado's Premises Liability Act. After significant argument and motions practice, the court agreed with Chris that our client qualified as a "statutory employer" at the time of the incident, and as such, it was entitled to liability immunity under Colorado's Workers' Compensation Statute and interpreting case law. In a lengthy and well-reasoned opinion, the court granted summary judgment in our client’s favor, dismissing all claims with prejudice.