A Louisiana jury recently awarded $6 million to a mill worker who suffered second- and third-degree burns when he fell into a pit of near-boiling water. On November 1, 1999, Robert Lewis Jr. was working at the Cinclare Central Factory sugar mill in Brusly, La., when he lost his footing and tripped into a pit full of scalding water. He suffered burns over 85 percent of his body.

Lewis filed suit against the factory's safety consultant, Ronald Olivier; his company, Louisiana Safety Consultants Inc.; and Union America Insurance Company, Louisiana Safety's insurance provider. He alleged a protective fence should have been built around the pit.