Truck Driver

Ferrellgas Partners has appointed Andrew Safran to its board of directors, effective 21 May 2026. Safran brings over 30 years of investment banking and private equity experience, specialising in natural resources and energy infrastructure. The propane retailer also appointed Pamela Breuckmann as vice chair, effective 22 May 2026, recognising her contributions to governance and succession planning. Jim Ferrell will continue as chairman. The board updates follow recent strategic moves including the renewal of Ferrellgas's credit agreement, refinancing of senior notes due in 2026, and conversion of all Class B units into Class A units in March. These transactions aimed to enhance financial flexibility and simplify the company's capital structure. Ferrellgas is one of the largest propane retailers in the United States.

Safety Expert Witness testimony excluded under Daubert in propane flash-fire products liability case. In the Fifth Circuit's 2024 decision in Johnston v. Ferrellgas, Inc., No. 23-10019 (5th Cir. 2024), the role of the Safety Expert Witness was central to a high-stakes propane products liability dispute. The court's Daubert analysis ultimately reversed a substantial jury verdict, illustrating how strict the appellate scrutiny of safety expert testimony has become. Background and Parties The plaintiffs were injured in a propane flash-fire incident in Texas and brought a products liability suit against Ferrellgas, Inc., a major propane distributor. Plaintiffs alleged that a 20-pound propane tank delivered by Ferrellgas had a defective face-seal at the valve interface, allowing propane to escape and ignite. The case proceeded to a jury trial in the Northern District of Texas, which returned a $1.7 million verdict in favor of the plaintiffs. Role and Methods of the Safety Expert Witness Plaintiffs retained Scott Buske, a propane safety expert, to opine on the alleged face-seal defect and the foreseeability of flash-fire ignition. Buske's methodology included: - Inspection of the subject propane tank and valve assembly. - Review of Ferrellgas's filling, refurbishment, and quality-control protocols. - Application of industry safety standards governing propane container manufacture and distribution. - Analysis of the incident scene to reconstruct the leak-and-ignition sequence. Buske concluded that a defective face-seal was the most probable cause of the leak, and that the defect existed when the tank left Ferrellgas's possession. Court's Daubert and Reliability Analysis On appeal, the Fifth Circuit conducted a rigorous Daubert review. The panel found that Buske's opinion linking the alleged defect to Ferrellgas's conduct rested on assumptions rather than direct evidence. The court emphasized three deficiencies: - Buske had not examined the tank in its as-distributed condition and could not exclude post-distribution causes of the seal failure. - His opinion that the defect existed when the tank left Ferrellgas's control was grounded in a process-of-elimination argument that omitted plausible alternative explanations. - The methodology did not satisfy Texas products liability law, which requires the plaintiff to prove that the defect existed at the time the product left the seller's hands. The Fifth Circuit held that Buske's testimony, as offered, did not provide a reliable evidentiary basis for the verdict. Impact on the Outcome The court reversed the $1.7 million judgment and rendered judgment in favor of Ferrellgas. The decision underscores that, even in cases involving catastrophic injury, a Safety Expert Witness's opinions must be tied directly to the specific factual record and meet the reliability requirements of Federal Rule of Evidence 702. Speculative causation theories - even when based on industry experience - will not survive appellate scrutiny. This case stands as a cautionary precedent for plaintiffs in propane and industrial-safety litigation: a Safety Expert Witness must be prepared to demonstrate, with specific evidence, that the alleged defect was present when the product left the defendant's control. Without that link, even compelling jury verdicts can be reversed on Daubert grounds.

Ferrellgas announces Raudel Arriaga, Director of Logistics, named one of Samsara's 100 Fleet Operators to Watch in 2026. GlobeNewswire | Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Today at 9:16am PDT LIBERTY, Mo., March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Innovation, safety, and technology are shaping the world around The Bend Bulletin, especially in the propane industry. That is why Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTC: FGPR) is proud to announce that Director of Logistics Raudel Arriaga has been selected as one of Samsara's 100 Fleet Operators to Watch in 2026. The program highlights transportation and logistics leaders who are redefining what safety means and how it impacts its lives and its future. "At Ferrellgas, safety, fleet stewardship, and operational discipline all go hand in hand," said Arriaga. "Our employee-owners take pride in the trucks they operate and the customers they serve. The connected fleet technology we've implemented helps us support them with better visibility and coordination across our network. I'm honored by the recognition, but it reflects the commitment of our entire Ferrellgas team." Arriaga has worked at Ferrellgas since 2014. His background includes work in IT, analytics, and field operations, bringing a strong focus on simplifying operational complexity and scaling performance across the fleet. "We are always looking to make our operations safer, more efficient, and easier for our teams in the field," said Arriaga. "When we support our drivers and managers with the right tools and information, it makes a real difference for both safety and service." Ferrellgas President and CEO Tamria Zertuche agreed. "Raudel is an important leader within our company. His leadership reflects the care and commitment our employee-owners bring to their work every day," she said. "Through our people, we continually build a strong culture of safe practices and accountability. I am proud to see Raudel receive this recognition; it is well deserved and a testament to the incredible work happening across our telematics, operations, and safety teams." About Ferrellgas Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Its Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is sold at about 65,000 locations nationwide. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2025, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2025. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at www.ferrellgas.com. For more information, follow Ferrellgas on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact GlobeNewswire directly.