Lawsuit over gas explosion caused by TV remote

By Merylee Robbins

Published on March 17, 2006

In 2003, 58-year-old Anthony Howell used the remote control to turn on his TV causing a fiery explosion that blew out his door, inflicted serious burns on his body and forced him to jump from his second story window. Howell had been smelling natural gas on and off in his apartment for about three to six weeks due to ongoing construction in the apartment located below him. Howell claims that he complained about the smell and the possibility of a leak to his landlord.

After the accident, Howell was hospitalized to treat his burns and has since undergone several skin grafting procedures. Howell is requesting unspecified damages in his lawsuit which names his landlord, the construction company working in the apartment, and Con Ed (the gas utility company) as defendants.

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