SMITTY’S SUPPLY SUED FOR CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION THAT DEVASTATED LOUISIANA COMMUNITY
New lawsuit alleges that Smitty’s negligence led to a massive fire, toxic contamination, and widespread property damage across Tangipahoa Parish.
ROSELAND, La. – A lawsuit has been filed against Smitty’s Supply, Inc. following the catastrophic explosion on August 22, 2025 and the resulting fire at its Roseland, Louisiana facility. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of local resident Ronnie Polezcek, alleges that Smitty’s failure to properly maintain its facility, contain hazardous chemicals, and comply with environmental and safety regulations caused widespread property damage, livestock deaths, and long-term contamination of nearby communities.
Polezcek, who lives three miles from the facility, was forced to evacuate and relocate livestock after thick black smoke, soot, and oily substances blanketed his property. His home, pond, pasture, and vehicles were coated with toxic residue, forcing him to burn contaminated hay and rendering his land unsafe for grazing or water use. One of his cows gave birth to a stillborn calf shortly after the explosion.
According to the lawsuit, Smitty’s stored millions of gallons of petroleum-based products and chemical additives at the site, including antifreeze, motor oils, lubricants, greases, hydraulic fluids, and detergents. The combustion of these products released hazardous volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs), heavy metals, dioxins, and fine particulate matter—substances linked to health conditions like cancer and long-term environmental harm.
The complaint cites Smitty’s troubling history:
· Multiple quarters of Clean Water Act violations and $194,772 in EPA penalties since 2022.
· EPA classification as a “Significant Noncomplier” of hazardous waste rules, with $250,000 in penalties in the last five years.
· Failure to timely report hazardous chemicals under federal emergency planning laws, resulting in additional penalties.
“Smitty’s knew the risks of its operations yet repeatedly failed to comply with the most basic safety and environmental standards,” said LaCrisha McAllister of Singleton Schreiber, attorney for Polezcek. “This explosion was not an accident, it was the foreseeable result of years of negligence, and the surrounding community is now left to deal with the fallout.”
The lawsuit seeks recovery for property damage, livestock relocation, loss of use and enjoyment of land, lost income, emotional distress, diminution in property value, cleanup and remediation costs, and ongoing environmental monitoring for potential short and long-term harms. Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm focusing in civil rights, environmental justice, mass torts/multi-district litigation, and personal injury/wrongful death. With a deep commitment to serving communities that have been marginalized and harmed, the firm has spent over a decade fighting for justice and holding powerful corporations accountable. Home to the nation’s largest fire litigation practice, the firm has represented over 30,000 wildfire and explosion victims and played leading roles in high-stakes cases nationwide. Singleton Schreiber is also a leader in environmental litigation, advocating for those impacted by corporate negligence and environmental disasters, including the 2025 Moss Landing Battery Fire, the ongoing Imperial Beach Sewage Spill, and the City of Boulder and Boulder County's lawsuit against oil giants for exacerbating climate change. Its civil rights practice tackles police misconduct, excessive force, wrongful incarceration, and free speech violations, using strategic litigation to drive reform. The team is also pursuing groundbreaking litigation against Tesla’s autopilot system, serving in leadership in national hair relaxer litigation, and advocating for survivors of abuse by major hotel chains. With deep experience in complex claims, Singleton Schreiber is committed to obtaining justice for its clients, holding corporations accountable and helping communities recover.
