Fatal Natural Gas Home Explosion Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Richard Bouder, 54, was killed in July of 2017 by a gas explosion when he suffered fatal injuries due to flying debris. Bouder, an employee of UGI Utilities, was investigating a potential gas leak at a residence in Lancaster County Pennsylvania at the time of the explosion. Bounder was the utility worker dispatched to the home after reports of gas odor. The explosion leveled the home, killed Richard Bouder, and injured two others.

His widow, Kim Bouder, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Honeywell International, Inc. alleging a product defect caused the explosion. Specifically, the suit alleges that the blast was caused by a defective T coupling that connected the home to the natural gas supply line. The T coupling at issue is alleged to have been manufactured by Honeywell International and is also known as Honeywell’s Permalock mechanical tapping tee.

According to the suit, the gas that ultimately ignited was leaking from the T coupling. The suit alleges that the Honeywell International defectively designed the T coupling and sold it to the public without adequate warnings or installation instructions. The lawsuit further alleges that Honeywell International was aware of the defects and that they had caused at least two prior gas explosions. Bouder’s suit also names other defendants that installed the coupling and the electricity company.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed due to a residential or commercial gas explosion, contact Brant J. Stogner at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.