Third Lawsuit Filed Against Yates Gas Over 2020 Home Explosion

Yates Gas is facing another lawsuit in the aftermath of the 2020 home explosion on Woodbury Lane. The plaintiff is Certain Underwriters At Lloyd’s (as insurer for Nicholas Vita), which is an insurance company that operates out of London, England. The company is seeking $2 million for the property damage inflicted on Vita’s home that the company was required to cover.

This is the third insurance company to file a lawsuit against Yates Gas and the homeowners (Pat and Amy Augustine) of 13 Woodbury Lane. One was filed in May and is seeking $3 million in damages for negligence while the other was filed in July and is seeking $590,000 in damages. The explosion destroyed one home and damaged several neighboring properties while injuring two people.

“The explosion and resulting damages were directly and proximately caused by negligence, carelessness, gross negligence and/or recklessness of defendant Yates employees,” the latest suit alleges.

Lloyd’s lawsuit includes one count of negligence against Yates Gas for their alleged failure to properly inspect the Augustine’s fuel tank and one count of negligence against the Augustines for their failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the tank did not leak propane gas onto 11 Woodbury Lane, which was the property that exploded.

“The explosion and resulting damages by plaintiff’s insured were directly and proximately caused by the negligence of the Augustines,” the suit claims. “As the homeowners of 13 Woodbury, the Augustines owed a duty to exercise due and reasonable care in maintaining the tank in compliance with all applicable laws, codes, and industry standards. The Augustines negligently and carelessly breached their duty of care.”

Lloyd’s is demanding a jury trial on both counts.