Parties To Wrongful Death Lawsuit Reach Settlement Over Exploding Apartment

The plaintiff and defendant have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed over the explosion of an Orlando apartment. The terms of the settlement are, as of now, undisclosed. The plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit after reaching a settlement with the defendants on January 6.

According to the lawsuit, on March 1, 2024, the plaintiff was severely burned in an explosion in her unit. Investigators discovered an uncapped and unplugged gas line in the apartment’s laundry room. Other residents of the same apartment complex had allegedly complained of gas leaks, smells, and other evidence of unsafe gas lines for several years before the plaintiff and her family moved in.

The decedent’s husband filed a lawsuit on behalf of himself, his former wife, and their three minor children on March 8 against the property’s owner, manager, and gas utility. He alleged that the uncapped gas line led to the explosion and his wife’s injuries. The decedent died two days after the complaint was filed, and the lawsuit was amended on April 2 with allegations of wrongful death, according to court documents.

The initial complaint details how the plaintiff requested a jury trial and damages exceeding $75,000 from Dallas-based property owner Highmark Residential, Florida-based property owner SPT WAH Woodhill—a limited liability company connected to a Connecticut-based property trust—and the Winter Garden, Florida-based Lake Apopka Natural Gas District gas utility.

According to the lawsuit, the property owner and manager failed to properly inspect the unit for safety issues before moving new tenants into the unit. Further, they failed to respond to numerous complaints made by other tenants concerning issues with the building’s gas lines and did not notify Lake Apopka Natural Gas District about the issue. The lawsuit also alleges that the Lake Apopka Natural Gas District failed to ensure the safety of the building’s gas supply or properly inspect units following numerous complaints regarding the smell of gas.

The resolution 

After mediating the dispute, the plaintiff received two settlements in undisclosed amounts. One was approved on July 15 and the other on Oct. 17. The first settlement is structured to be paid to the children in annual installments, managed by a guardian ad litem. On Sept. 24, following the first settlement, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Highmark Residential and SPT WAH Woodhill from the case with prejudice, according to court documents.

Elements of negligence 

The owners of the apartment complex allegedly ignored several complaints made by tenants concerning the smell of gas inside the apartment complex. Their failure to act on credible information supplied by tenants resulted in the death of one of their customers.

Talk to a Jacksonville, FL Personal Injury Lawyer Today 

Gillette Law represents the interests of plaintiffs in lawsuits filed against negligent defendants. We will fight for your right to be compensated by negligent individuals who caused your injuries. Call our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin investigating your case right away.

Source:

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