Dallas Firefighters File $100M Suit For Apartment Gas Explosion Injuries

Three Dallas firefighters severely injured from an apartment natural gas explosion are suing the apartment complex owner and the building’s gas supplier for $100,000,000.

According to a lawsuit filed in Dallas County district court, the firefighters were responding to a carbon monoxide leak call at Highland Hills Apartments in Oak Cliff on September 29, 2021 when a sudden natural gas explosion occurred, causing catastrophic injuries and severe burns to all three firefighters. The lawsuit alleges claims for negligence, premises liability, and gross negligence against Mountain Creek Apts., LP, Odin Properties, Odin Management and the complex’s gas supplier, Atmos Energy Corporation.

A severed gas line was actively leaking natural gas when plaintiffs Christopher Gadomski, Ronald Hall, Pauline Perez arrived Highland Hills unit 129. An investigation concluded that the gas leak inside the unit was likely caused by a bullet from a domestic violence incident on the property hours before the explosion.

At the time of the explosion, Perez was inside the unit to determine if anyone had suffered injuries, while Hall and Gadomski were outside with apartment management.

As a result of the explosion, Perez sustained second-and third-degree burns to her hands, arms, legs, her ears, and her face, Hall suffered extensive second-and third-degree burns to 40% of his body including his face, head, arms, and legs, and Gadomski suffered numerous second-and third-degree burns, as well as extensive broken bones in both legs.

According to the lawsuit, Texas Railroad Commission investigated the explosion and determined that Odin Properties and Mountain Creek Apts., L.P. operated an unregistered natural gas master meter system that failed to meet minimum federal and state standards. Moreover, the plaintiffs allege Atmos was unaware of the unregistered master meter system it supplied. Atmos made prior repairs to the apartment’s gas system after leak reports, including leaks created by prior gunshots on premises.

The lawsuit alleges that Atmos failed to ensure that Mountain Creek and Odin’s master meter system was registered with the State of Texas or complied with the minimum state and federal requirements.

“Atmos knew the inherent risks of a natural gas explosion, affirmatively made repairs to Mountain Creek and Odin’s unregistered master meter gas system in response to numerous leaks, and failed to require Mountain Creek and Odin to implement their own safety and emergency measures for addressing leaks,” law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner wrote.

Topics Lawsuits