BRISTOL, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of four people who were hurt in the deadly explosion at a Bristol Township nursing home. It claims “overwhelming negligence” by PECO and the facility’s operators.
The lawsuit says residents and workers at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road had complained to staff about the “strong odor” of natural gas in the days before the Dec. 23 explosion that killed three people and injured 20.
Drew Duffy, a partner at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, says that, despite the odor, Bristol Health and Rehab, its parent company Saber Healthcare Group, and PECO failed to protect residents and employees.
“There was not a proper evacuation, there is not proper natural gas detectors. There were procedures as far as within the home itself that were not followed. And as far as PECO is concerned, we believe that they failed to properly address the leak once it was identified,” Duffy said.
PECO crews were at the facility a few hours before the explosion for reports of a gas odor. PECO spokesperson Greg Smore said after the blast, crews shut off "natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents."
State records show the facility was cited for multiple violations during its most recent inspection in October by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, including failing to provide accurate floor plans and properly maintain stairways and fire extinguishers on one level. Inspectors also cited the facility for lacking required smoke barrier partitions designed to contain smoke across floors.
Medicare’s overall rating of the facility is listed as “much below average,” with poor ratings for health inspections, in particular.
The suit is filed in Philadelphia on behalf of a resident who was critically injured, two health care aides, and an IT contractor who was in the building at the time. It seeks unspecified damages, with Duffy saying his clients want to know what happened and want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.
PECO and Saber Healthcare say they are both cooperating with the NTSB’s investigation and cannot comment on pending litigation.
“This was a horrible yet preventable tragedy,” Duffy said.