Natural Gas Explosion Lawsuit Filed Against NorthWestern Energy

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Montana on behalf of a 71-year old priest who died after suffering severe injuries in a natural gas explosion that was allegedly caused by the negligence of NorthWestern Energy.

The lawsuit was filed on March 23, 2009 in the District Court of Butte, Montana, by Rev. John McCarthy, on behalf of his brother, Rev. James McCarthy.

NorthWestern Energy and one of their division managers, Leonard Leveaux, were named as defendants in the lawsuit, which alleges that leaking natural gas from a supply line caused the explosion.

Rev. James McCarthy died in November 2007, as a result of injuries suffered in the gas explosion that occurred in his apartment in April 2007. The natural gas ignited as he attempted to light a cigarette, causing severe injuries and burns.

The natural gas explosion lawsuit alleges that a faulty service line owned and maintained by NorthWestern was leaking gas for more than 16 hours before the fire.

Common causes of natural gas explosions in homes are faulty storage or poor maintenance of gas service equipment that may lead to leaks that can ignite. Faulty installation of gas lines, meters or appliances, defective gas meters, lines, control valves, connectors, and poor maintenance by the gas company, repair technicians, sellers, manufacturers and distributors of appliances may all contribute to potential explosions.

NorthWestern Energy also faces potential lawsuits over a recent natural gas explosion that occurred on March 5, 2009 in Bozeman, Montana, which destroyed several buildings and killed one woman. Although the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, reports suggest that a leak in the underground supply line between the main gas line and the meter for a local business likely lead to the explosion.