YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A lawsuit has been filed by GreenHeart Companies LLC against Enbridge Gas Ohio and its subsidiaries, alleging negligence that contributed to a fatal natural gas explosion at Realty Tower last year. The lawsuit, seeking unspecified damages, was submitted in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on the one-year anniversary of the blast.
The complaint names Enbridge, nine of its subsidiaries, Dominion Energy Inc., Columbia Gas of Ohio, MS Consultants Inc., and ten unnamed defendants as parties responsible for the incident. It accuses these companies of showing “extreme indifference” to the safety and health of individuals and property, despite their knowledge of potential hazards associated with their actions.
The explosion occurred on May 28, 2024, when a crew working for GreenHeart mistakenly cut into a gas line believed to be decommissioned. The company was contracted by the city of Youngstown to clear debris from a vault located underneath a sidewalk adjacent to Realty Tower.
According to court documents, the gas companies had engaged in construction activities near Realty Tower between 2008 and 2015. These activities involved the decommissioning and removal of gas lines and meters in the area. GreenHeart’s complaint argues that the defendants failed to properly deactivate or cap the natural gas line in question, thus creating the conditions that led to the explosion.
The lawsuit claims that the gas companies were responsible for maintaining and inspecting the gas service line up to the meter located near Realty Tower, yet they allegedly did not adequately inform GreenHeart of the line’s status. The complaint emphasizes that the company had relied on the assumption that the gas lines had been safely deactivated.
MS Consultants Inc., a Columbus-based architectural and engineering firm, is also named in the suit for allegedly breaching its duty of care during the construction project. The documents state that MS Consultants provided professional services related to the gas line’s decommissioning but failed to recognize the potential risks involved.
GreenHeart’s lawsuit lists six counts of negligence and seeks compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $25,000, along with interest, legal fees, and court costs. The company has requested a jury trial.
The explosion resulted in the tragic death of Akil Drake, a Chase Bank employee. In April, his family reached a $6.1 million settlement in a separate wrongful death lawsuit. The settlement included contributions from multiple parties: $3 million from the building ownership and management entities, and $2.9 million from Enbridge and Dominion. Additional payments of $100,000 each were contributed by MS Consultants and A Nieder Architects.
The blast also caused injuries to several others and forced over 20 residents from their homes. Local businesses, including the DoubleTree Hotel and Bistro 1907, faced closures for weeks. The incident led to numerous lawsuits, and the damage to Realty Tower was so severe that the historic building was ultimately demolished.
In recent updates, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released findings indicating flaws in the record-keeping of Dominion and Enbridge. As part of an investigation into the explosion, it was noted that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio had assessed the gas service line outside Realty Tower as abandoned, raising questions about the accuracy of their records.
As the NTSB continues its investigation, the final report on the explosion remains pending, with officials working to uncover further details of the tragic incident.