New Complaint Alleges Negligence in Realty Tower Explosion
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A Chase Bank employee has sued natural gas supplier Enbridge Inc. and 12 other entities stemming from the deadly explosion at Realty Tower in May.
Toussaint Blake and his wife, Gabrielle, filed a complaint Oct. 3 alleging defendants breached their duty “by failing to use reasonable care to warn, inspect, advise, instruct, and communicate with the contractors working in Realty Tower basement,” regarding information about a pressurized natural gas pipe that workers cut into, causing the explosion.
The lawsuit says Toussaint Blake suffered personal injuries, was required to seek medical care, suffered great pain of mind and body and experienced loss of wages because of the explosion. The lawsuit also cites “other injury, damage and loss, all of which will continue into the future,” and added that Blake’s “injuries are permanent.”
In addition to Enbridge, the complaint names subsidiaries Enbridge Gas Distribution LLC, Enbridge Elephant Holdings LLC, Enbridge Alternative Fuel LLC, Enbridge Pipelines Inc., Enbridge Genoa Holdings LLC, Enbridge U.S. Inc. and Enbridge EOG Holdings LLC.
The lawsuit also names Dominion Energy Inc., the former owner of the pipelines, and Dominion Energy Questar Corp.
Also identified as defendants in the lawsuit are Greenheart Companies LLC, the contractor performing the demolition work; LY Property Management LLC; Realty Building owner YO Properties 47 LLC; and 20 other John and Jane Does.
The lawsuit was filed by Brian Kopp of Betras Kopp LLC in Canfield and is asking for compensatory damages of more than $25,000, plus interest and court costs.
On May 28, employees of Greenheart were performing demolition work at Realty Tower when a worker cut into a gas line that was supposed to be decommissioned. Workers immediately called 911 and triggered the fire alarm.
Approximately six minutes later, an explosion rocked the building, killing Chase Bank employee Akil Drake and injuring at least seven others.
Thus far, eight complaints have been filed in the aftermath of the explosion.
Pictured at top: A Chase Bank sign is seen on the Realty Tower after the May 28 explosion at the building.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
