The Law as a Force for Change

In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small examines the devastating Farmers Export grain elevator disaster, where 18 employees died in a grain dust explosion, and explains how this case fits into the broader history of the prosecution of white collar crime. Traditionally, health and safety violations were addressed through civil lawsuits, leaving managers and similar personnel untouched by the legal system. However, the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1970 introduced criminal penalties for serious violations, signaling a shift in how such cases could be handled. Following a series of fatal explosions in the grain elevator industry, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a grand jury investigation, culminating in the indictment of executives at Farmers Export for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.