CenterPoint Energy will pay at least $192,500 to settle a gas explosion lawsuit with the City of Minneapolis. The explosion occurred on March 17, 2011, in South Minneapolis near 60th Street and Nicollet Avenue South. Luckily, no one was hurt. However, the blast caused property damage to the nearby Cub Foods, owned by Jerry’s Enterprises, and dozens of cars parked in the area.
CenterPoint Energy and the City of Minneapolis disagree as to who was responsible for the explosion. The City of Minneapolis originally filed a gas explosion lawsuit against CenterPoint Energy, claiming the Texas-based company neglected to properly maintain the gas pipes. CenterPoint filed a countersuit, claiming the pipe was damaged due to improperly maintained sewage and water lines that ran under the pipe.
CenterPoint maintains that the sewage and water lines were to blame but has agreed to settle the suit for at least $192,500. The majority of the gas explosion lawsuit settlement, according to the Star Tribune, will go to Jerry’s Enterprises for property damage to the Cub Foods. A portion of it will go to insurance companies.
It is very fortunate that no one was seriously hurt or killed in this explosion. However, this resolution seems to leave a gap in accountability that could allow a similar incident to happen in the future. Should the city be paying closer attention to their water and sewage lines to make sure washouts do not affect gas lines? Is CenterPoint solely responsible for ensuring the safety and integrity of the pipes?
Improperly installed or maintained gas lines are extremely dangerous. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one due to a gas explosion, you can hold companies accountable and recover damages by filing a gas explosion lawsuit. The gas explosion attorneys at Goldenberg Lauricella have handled a number of catastrophic accident and explosion cases, including a St. Paul house explosion that was a result of a dangerous cross-boring technique. Contact us for a free consultation.