$27 million in known repairs needed before explosions, fires, says lawsuit

Sept. 18--Columbia Gas, the natural gas utility, was aware of $27 million in repairs and upgrades needed to the gas carrying pipes this area prior to Thursday's massive gas explosion and fires, according to a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The law firm, Morgan & Morgan, is accusing Columbia Gas of negligence in the suit filed in Essex County Superior Court.

Almost a year earlier, on Oct. 31, 2017, "Columbia Gas identified 150 leaks in its distribution system that required maintenance and $26,839,832 in leak prone infrastructure and gas distribution lines that required replacement."

"The high risk and leak prone infrastructure was not replaced" by Columbia Gas prior to dozens and fires across Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on Thursday, Sept. 13.

The suit also alleges Columbia Gas of Massachusetts uses over 471 miles of cast or wrought iron pipes. Federal investigators probing the gas leak acknowledged some of the gas lines involved were cast iron and 100 years old.

"This is among the highest amounts of cast or wrought iron distribution lines utilized by an American utility company. There are 178 utility companies that utilize a lower number of cast or wrought iron distribution lines," according to the suit.

The class-action suit was filed on behalf of Francely Acosta and "all others similarly stated."

Lawrence residents Homayoun and Juana Maali also filed a civil lawsuit against Columbia Gas on Tuesday through their attorney Daniel Faneuf, of Boston.

That suit alleges Columbia Gas "negligently, carelessly, and recklessly delivered natural gas" into their home "causing an explosion."

Morgan & Morgan attorneys Robert Kennedy Jr. and Frank Petosa said the law firm will be conducting its own investigation of the gas issue, using experts they hire, in parallel with local, state and federal officials.

"Columbia committed an act of extreme negligence," said Kennedy, noting the gas pressure in area pipes was 12 higher than normal.

Petosa said residents have returned to their homes and businesses with "the uncertainty this horrible act could happen again."

Pointing the $27 million in necessary repairs, Petosa said the utility made no effort to fix already identified problems.

"Our goal here is to insure residents in the three towns have access to justice," he said.

Investigators said pressure in the local natural gas pipelines was 12 times higher than normal last week, allegedly leading to the gas explosions in the Lawrence, Andover and North Andover areas.

The pressure spike registered in a Columbia Gas control room in Ohio, investigators said.

Dozens of explosions and fires last Thursday killed one person and injured more than two dozen others. About 8,600 gas meters were affected, and many people had to evacuate their homes for days and may have to go without gas service for weeks.

South Lawrence was evacuated until early Sunday morning. Power was also cut to the area Thursday night and restored Sunday morning.

The explosions are under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt has said the investigation is partially focused on pressure sensors that were connected to a gas line that was being taken out of service shortly before the blasts.

Watch eagletribune.com for more on this developing story. A complete report will appear in Wednesday's print edition of The Eagle-Tribune and online at eagletribune.com.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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