Montana Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over Natural Gas Explosion

A natural gas explosion lawsuit has been filed against NorthWestern Energy by the husband of a Montana woman killed March 5 in an explosion that destroyed half of a city block in Bozeman.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Christopher Bowman in Gallatin County District Court in Montana, alleging that the death of his wife, Tara Reistan Bowman, was caused the negligence of Northwestern and Leonard Leveaux, the company’s system integrity manager, for failing to prevent or detect a cracked pipe joint that allegedly caused the Bozeman explosion.

Bowman alleges that the natural gas explosion occurred after a fractured pipe joint allowed gas to seep out and enter Montana Trails Gallery, where Tara Bowman was working that morning.

NorthWestern has denied responsibility for the blast, saying that there is no proof that the cracked pipe caused the explosion. The company has said that its own investigation indicated that the joint fractured shortly before the explosion, saying there was no reasonable way they could have repaired it in time. The company also suggests that the joint could have cracked as a result of the explosion.

The complaint alleges that the type of joint used was out-of-date and prone to fracture. Bowman indicates that NorthWestern should have been aware of that and had the joint replaced. The suit also claims that the company and Leveaux failed to meet federal maintenance standards on its lines, and should have known there were problems due to previous explosions and fires.

Two years earlier on Easter Sunday in 2007, a similar explosion caused by a NorthWestern Energy pipeline killed Rev. James McCarthy in his Butte, Montana, apartment. A gas explosion lawsuit filed by his brother, Rev. John McCarthy, alleging that one of the company’s pipes had been leaking for more than 16 hours without being repaired. McCarthy died of severe burn injuries caused by the fire, sparked when he attempted to light a cigarette.

The Bowman lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for wrongful death, compensation and punitive damages. The McCarthy lawsuit is also seeking an unspecified amount of damages for medical expenses, physical and emotional pain and suffering, property damage and punitive damages.