FORT WORTH, Texas – A third lawsuit has been filed in the aftermath of the explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. The victims of the explosion allege that their safety was disregarded by the hotel management and natural gas company Atmos Energy.
The first lawsuit was filed by a man who claims to have been injured while trying to escape the blast. He is suing both the hotel and Atmos Energy for negligence. Following this, the lawyer of an employee of the hotel also filed a lawsuit against the same defendants.
The latest filing includes a total of eight employees and two spouses of the injured employees as plaintiffs. The suit claims that the negligence of the listed defendants led to the explosion on January 8, causing serious injuries to the plaintiffs.
According to the lawsuit, the employees and guests had reported a distinct gas odor in the hotel hours before the explosion, but no action was taken by the hotel management. This negligence resulted in the catastrophic explosion, leaving the plaintiffs with serious injuries including concussion syndrome, neck pain, and tingling in their arms and legs.
The lawsuit also reveals that two spouses of the injured employees have filed loss of consortium claims. The suit was filed by a Houston-based firm, despite the fact that the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown.
Atmos Energy has stated that their investigation found no fault with their equipment, but the plaintiffs’ attorney has expressed skepticism and plans to conduct their own investigation to determine the source of the ignition.
The Fort Worth Fire Department has mentioned that the cleanup has been delayed due to the lawsuits, and the investigation process could take months as they sift through debris and gather information from those involved.