Paul v. N. L. Industries, Inc.

DOOLIN, Justice:

The quandary of the absent, or “ghost”, tortfeasor is brought before this Court for the first time since we decided that several liability shall rule in comparative negligence cases. 1

Plaintiff Paul was working at an oil drilling site in Canadian County. Defendant Stelting was delivering a load of drilling mud for Defendant N. L. Industries, Inc. The only road to the mud storage house passed between a butane storage tank and the drilling rig, and over a pipeline connecting the tank with the rig. While maneuvering his truck over this road, a leak developed in the butane line,…