Family Blames Iraq Contractors for Soldier's Death

The family of a soldier electrocuted at a U.S. military base in Iraq says contractors Arkel International and KBR Technical Services are to blame for his death because they did not properly install a generator.

Larraine McGee and Patrick Everett say their son Sgt. Chris Everett died as a result of the negligence of both companies.

Everett, 23, was electrocuted while power-washing a Humvee Sept. 7, 2005, at Tallil Air Base in Iraq, according to the plaintiffs.

He was serving with the Army National Guard's 56th Brigade Combat Team at the time, the complaint says.

In their lawsuit, which is pending in Texas' Harris County District Court, McGee and Everett say the generator supplying electricity to the power washer was not properly grounded and caused the electrocution.

Arkel and KBR Technical Services were responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of the generator, the suit claims.

The plaintiffs say the contractors were aware that the generator was not grounded properly at the time of Chris' death.

The companies received numerous complaints about the generator from military personnel before Sept. 7, 2005, but did not fix the problem, McGee and Everett say.

The contractors instead falsely told military troops that the generator had been fixed, the suit claims.

The plaintiffs allege Arkel and KBR Technical Services were aware of the risks of an improperly grounded generator but acted with "conscious indifference" to the safety of Everett and his fellow troops at the base.

The complaint is seeking unspecified damages, interest and costs.

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The plaintiffs are represented by Michael Doyle of Doyle Raizner LLP in Houston.