On July 6, 2019, a catastrophic natural gas explosion erupted in a vacant pizzeria at a Plantation shopping plaza near LA Fitness, injuring over 70 people and devastating nearby businesses. The blast shattered windows, scattered debris hundreds of feet, and left multiple victims with serious injuries—including brain injuries, tinnitus, orthopedic injuries, and PTSD—as gym patrons and passersby fled in panic.
Our firm was chosen by our peers to serve as lead counsel, overseeing more than 120 consolidated lawsuits on behalf of injured individuals and impacted businesses . We alleged the property owner, property manager, and gas utility gas utility company were negligent in leaving the meter on and the end of the gas line uncapped in the vacant unit for almost seven months. This allowed some 7,000 ft³ of gas to accumulate until it was ignited by an air-conditioning system.
Using powerful animation evidence and expert testimony, we demonstrated repeated failures: the gas company failed to perform a safety shutoff when gas service was terminated, and no cap was placed at the end of the gas line when the kitchen equipment was removed.
These unified actions produced accountability measures and meaningful compensation for survivors, reinforcing the crucial duty that companies owe to public safety.
