GATESVILLE, Texas — A survivor of the deadly natural gas explosion at Coryell County Memorial Hospital filed a lawsuit against Atmos Energy Wednesday, according to Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones, P.C., a law firm representing the survivor.
Matt Morrison, a partner at Harrison Davis, said Atmos Energy failed to comply with federal pipeline regulations requiring companies to odorize natural gas.
"Long ago, in the wake of deadly explosions, regulators required natural gas to be odorized with a rotten egg smell so that we can easily detect its presence," Morrison said.
An investigation by State Fire Marshals determined the explosion happened after valves to water heaters were left open, allowing a large amount of natural gas, supplied by Atmos Energy, to collect in a mechanical room.
Investigators conducted interviews with witnesses who denied smelling gas before the explosion, according to the report.
"The fact that construction workers denied smelling what turned out to be a large pocket of natural gas is alarming,” Morrison said.
According to the firm representing the survivor, the victim "suffered severe, debilitating, third-degree burns" in the blast that claimed three lives and left 13 injured.
“We think the evidence in this case will show Atmos Energy Corporation was responsible for causing the horrific explosion at the Coryell County Memorial Hospital that led to our client’s devastating injuries.” Morrison said.
Atmos Energy is also facing another lawsuit from the mother of a man killed in the explosion.