FORT WORTH, Texas – A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of eight employees who were severely injured in the Sandman Hotel explosion in Downtown Fort Worth. The suit accuses Atmos Energy, Sandman Management, Northland Developments, and Rock Libations LP, the owners of the Musume restaurant, of negligence in the upkeep of natural gas utilities. Two spouses of the injured parties are also included as plaintiffs in the suit.
This is the third lawsuit filed since the explosion occurred. According to Zehl & Associates, the defendants were negligent in maintaining natural gas utilities and failed to take necessary safety precautions. The suit argues that the defendants knew or should have known of the dangerous condition that led to the explosion. It contends that the injuries were caused by the defendants’ gross negligence and seeks damages to cover medical care, pain and suffering, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of earnings, and court costs.
Founding partner Ryan Zehl stated, “The defendants knew there was a risk that this sort of tragic accident could happen, and they simply didn’t take the time or effort to either fix the issues or warn our clients of the dangers.” The suit also claims that multiple reports of a strong gas smell in the building were made before the explosion occurred, which injured more than 20 people and caused catastrophic damage.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of failing to fix the issues or warn the victims of the potential dangers. The explosion resulted in severe injuries to multiple individuals, and the plaintiffs are seeking compensation for their damages. The suit also includes claims for mental anguish, loss of earnings, and court costs, as well as the expenses for medical care and future pain and suffering. The defendants are facing multiple legal challenges as a result of the explosion, heightening the urgency for a resolution.