Wrongful Death Suit Filed Over Natural Gas Explosion in Illinois

By Mary Mitchell

Published on August 25, 2006

The August 2 explosion also left another of the woman’s sons with burns over 30 percent of his body. The blast damaged 15 houses near the woman’s Carlinville home located 60 miles northeast of St. Louis.

The lawsuit, filed in mid-August, seeks at least $50,000 in damages for each of eight counts that blame the explosion on the alleged negligence of St. Louis-based natural gas utility AmerenIP and Area Heating and Air Conditioning Ltd. of Carlinville. The suit alleges that AmerenIP ran the natural gas to the house at excessive pressure, failed to properly inspect the house, and did not odorize the gas. The suit also claims the heating/air conditioning company improperly installed the home’s water heater and failed to properly inspect gas appliances there.

Carlinville Police Chief David Haley confirmed that the police were allowing insurance investigators to determine the cause of the explosion, and that the explosion did not appear to be due to criminal action. The surviving family members’ attorney, Jon Rosenstengel, filed the lawsuit in Madison County although the explosion occurred in Macoupin County.

Margaret “Sherry" Hatlen, 55, and Michael Albracht, her nine-year-old grandson, died in the explosion. 15-year-old Coady Hatlen suffered burns over 90 percent of his body and died while being treated the following day.

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