Washington utility pays $8 million to family of gas explosion victim

By Mary Mitchell

Published on May 19, 2006

Frances Schmitz, 68, was badly burned by the explosion, which state investigators said was due to a gas leak from long-term corrosion in a gas pipeline to the home. Schmitz died of her injuries three weeks later. Her three children filed a lawsuit against the utility in March 2005 in King County Superior Court.

The state investigators also concluded that an electrical device designed to repel corrosion had been wired incorrectly at the Schmitz house. PSE later voluntarily dug up and replaced the steel pipe with non-corroding plastic pipe in more than 400 homes in Schmitz’ neighborhood.

The attorney representing the Schmitz family, David Beninger, said that the case took more than a year to settle because the family wanted to make sure that the utility took action to prevent a similar explosion. Beninger noted that PSE is now in compliance with requirements issued by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. PSE will also pay a $90,000 penalty as part of the settlement, which they have declined to discuss further.

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