More than two months after that fatal Silver Spring natural gas explosion that killed seven people, there are still questions about who is responsible. A judge may be deciding this now.
Advocates with Casa of Maryland and attorneys with the firm Bailey and Glasser announced on Wednesday that they filed two lawsuits with D.C. Superior Court against the Flower Branch Apartments’ management company, Kay Management and Washington Gas. They are also suing the company responsible for delivering the gas.
The shell of the apartment building that suffered the natural gas explosion still stands at the corner of Arliss Street and Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring, Maryland. That’s why Solomon Weldemariam said he’s been living with a friend.
“One of my friends, the member of the dying people, so I don’t want to see that place again because my mind is no good,” Weldemariam said.
Those still at the apartment complex said their frustration hasn't gotten any better. Around a month after the explosion, residents marched into a Kay Management Leasing Office demanding a promised second meeting on apartment conditions. Several tenants said that meeting still hasn’t happened.
Some of those same tenants chanted, “Si se puede,” and “Yes we can,” outside of Washington Gas’ D.C. Headquarters hoping this time around, they’ll get answers from someone.
The two lawsuits announced and filed Wednesday are a class action and death injury complaint.
Lawyers said the deadly natural gas explosion that killed seven people, injured more than 30 and displaced more than 100 in August was completely preventable.
Both suits slammed the companies named for neglect, saying in that gas leak-related 911 call made less than three weeks before the deadly blast, management and Washington Gas failed to address, inspect, warn others or evacuate residents after the complaint.
“All we have now is all donations from the neighbor, red cross, clothes. Before we lost everything so it’s hard,” said Sara Garcia.
She said she and her family are still trying to replace all they lost.
Weldemariam is named in the class action lawsuit. He said at one point his neighbors thought he was dead.
“I lost my property, all my property, just my backpack. This thing happened after work, so I need justice,” he said.
Attorneys said they had a hard time getting information from Washington Gas and Kay Management while preparing lawsuits. Whether lease-holders or not, the death inquiry lawsuit is representing nearly 30 victims.
