one attempted that day.  Molett and Landry were standing on a scaffold 147 feet above the rig floor waiting for the gin pole to be raised.  To lift the gin pole, McBroom employees wrapped a new spinning chain around the top derrick beams and attached to it a snatch block and related tackle.  Two hooks had been attached to the chain, and one was inserted into the chain to secure it to the beam.  The second hook was left dangling, unused, over the side of the beam.  As the lift was attempted, the gin pole suddenly broke loose and fell, hitting the scaffold on which Molett and Landry were standing and sending them and most of their equipment tumbling to the rig floor. In violation of state, federal, and company safety regulations, neither man was wearing a safety line when the accident occurred.


5
After the accident, McBroom employees searched for evidence of its cause.  They discovered a chain still hanging from the top derrick beam, almost entirely unwound and missing one hook, and the snatch block intact on the rig floor.  The missing hook and any remnant of chain that may have been attached to it were never recovered, evidently having fallen into the river.


6
The survivors of Molett and Landry brought wrongful death actions against Penrod, Marathon, and other companies believed to be the manufacturers of the chain and hook used to lift the gin pole when the accident occurred.  Ultimately, it was discovered that the chain bore