$17.2 Million Settlement for Gas Explosion Deaths

By Merylee Robbins

Published on January 27, 2006

The lawsuit blames the fatal explosion on negligently maintained gas equipment that had rusted in the basement of the complex. In 2003, a state investigation into the explosion confirmed that the Carey's gas company, NStar, may have violated safety regulations and subsequently fined them $200,000. Results of the investigation helped lend strength to the Carey's lawsuit, as the explosion destroyed any physical evidence that could have proven the precise cause of the explosion.

The Carey's suit named NStar, Inner-Tite Corp. (the equipment manufacturers), and apartment landlords Leonard and Anne-Marie Pearson. The case was scheduled for court in Middlesex County, however before the trial lawyers reached a settlement, which required payment of $12.5 million by NStar, $4.5 million from Inner-Tite, and $175,000 from the landlords. The collective amount of the Carey's wrongful death settlement was a record amount for a lawsuit involving child deaths.

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