St Joseph, Mo. ? Triumph Foods is suing Missouri Gas Energy, claiming four counts of negligence in a deadly explosion during the construction of a pork processing plant in October.

The state fire marshal found that gas leaking from an open valve fueled the explosion at Triumph Foods, killing a masonry worker and injuring more than 14 other people.

The lawsuit, filed July 7 in Buchanan County Circuit Court, alleges the company did not incorporate enough odorant into gas provided to the property. It seeks $24 million in damages.

John Barnett, a spokesman for Southern Union Co., the Houston-based parent of Missouri Gas Energy, said the company was aware of the lawsuit but did not discuss pending litigation.

The explosion caused an estimated $5 million in damages to the $150 million facility and delayed the plant’s opening by several weeks.

In three other lawsuits filed by many of the workers injured in the explosion, Triumph Foods and Missouri Gas Energy both have been named as defendants.

James Montee, who represents many of the injured workers, said he hoped the three cases would be consolidated.