A deadly explosion December 23 at a nursing home in Bristol, Pa., Bucks County killed at least two people and injured many others. The explosion occurred around 2:17 p.m. at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center in Bristol Township as a utility crew was searching for a potential gas leak. Authorities said two people were killed and others were trapped inside as part of the building collapsed and fire was shooting out.
Hours later, fire officials said they were in rescue mode, digging by hand and using search dogs, earth-moving equipment and sonar to locate potential victims. At least five people were unaccounted for.
Kline & Specter has litigated numerous highly publicized explosion cases involving both workplace injuries and premises liability. Below are some of the most noteworthy cases.
The Motiva Case
Kline & Specter conducted an extensive investigation into a deadly 2001 explosion at a Motiva Enterprises oil refinery in Delaware City, Delaware. The blast, caused by a leaking tanker, killed construction worker Jeffrey Davis, who was thrown into a vat of sulfuric acid while repairing catwalks on refinery tanks.
The firm’s investigation — which involved hiring 14 experts and reviewing 40,000 documents — uncovered critical evidence that had been missed by government authorities, including the true cause of the explosion and clear negligence on the part of Motiva.
The result was a landmark $36.4 million settlement for Davis’s family in 2003, believed to be the largest settlement ever secured for a single worker fatality in the U.S. In the following years, Motiva also faced significant penalties: a $10 million criminal fine in 2005 for negligence and environmental harm, and an additional $16.2 million in a civil settlement with state and federal regulators due to the release of more than a million gallons of acid and petroleum products into the Delaware River.
The Village Green Case
In the Village Green apartments case, six people died and six were injured in an explosion and fire caused when basement flooding dislodged a clothes dryer and resulted in a gas leak. The incident occurred in June 2001, following heavy rains that had caused flooding in the apartment complex on several previous occasions.
A three-year investigation by Kline & Specter concluded that the explosion could have been avoided had just a few more bolts been used to properly secure the dryer’s gas line. The firm ultimately won a $40.5 million settlement for the estates of six people who were killed and others who were injured.
The Cerritelli Case
Tom Kline achieved a substantial settlement in a case against PSE&G and subcontractor Henkels & McCoy for the family of an Ewing Township, New Jersey, woman who was killed when a fiery explosion leveled her condominium complex. Linda Cerritelli, 62, had been working from home when the midday explosion occurred, damaging 55 homes.
The McCarty Case
Kline & Specter also obtained a settlement for an older couple seriously injured when their Cape May County, New Jersey, house exploded because a propane tank on their property was not removed or properly disconnected when they switched to natural gas. James McCarty suffered third-degree burns over a quarter of his body while his wife, Evelyn, suffered two severely broken ankles.
Discuss Your Case Today
If you’ve been injured in an explosion, don’t wait to protect your rights. Contact Kline & Specter to discuss your unique legal situation. Call 215-772-1000 or submit our online form.
Kline & Specter provides free and confidential evaluations of potential cases. Kline & Specter handles cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. For cases outside those states, the law firm works with local attorneys in each state as applicable.
