A California appeals court upheld a jury award of nearly $20 million for a man severely burned nearly five years ago in a natural gas explosion in San Gabriel, California.
Pengxuan “Dean” Diao sued Southern California Gas Co. and the owners of the home where he was hurt.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated for about a day and a half before finding in favor of 26-year-old in June of 2014. The jury awarded him a total of $19,876,818 and found that the Gas Co. was liable for about $18.1 million of that amount.
Diao suffered second- and third-degree burns over 20 percent of his body, as well as brain damage that will likely cause him to begin experiencing dementia when he’s about 50.
Diao was 23 when a Gas Co. employee opened a natural gas valve that activated a gas line running to the converted garage where he was sleeping on Jan. 19, 2011. The room filled up with 300 cubic feet of natural gas and exploded in flames after Diao, who had awakened, unwittingly lit a cigarette.
Miller Weisbrod has successfully pursued multiple lawsuits against natural gas companies arising from explosions due to aging pipes, broken pipes and inadequate policies relating to replacement of natural gas pipe components. Clay Miller, partner in Miller Weisbrod, obtained a $12,500,000 settlement in a gas explosion resulting in serious burn injuries to our client.
Lewisville gas explosion compared to 2008 fatal blast from Miller Weisbrod.
If you have suffered an injury in a natural gas explosion accident, please contact us at 214.987.0005 or toll free at 888.987.0005 for a free consultation. You may also contact us by e-mail today for answers to your important questions or to schedule an appointment.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.