Medina Village survivor sues management company
Lawsuit claims uncapped gas line led to blast
Columbia Gas employees inspect exterior gas lines the morning of the explosion at Medina Village Apartments Feb. 9. File photo by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – Robert Drake, the survivor of the explosion/fire at Medina Village Apartments that killed his wife and son, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the complex’s property management company, claiming it is responsible for the deaths due to its failure to address an uncapped gas valve in the Drake’s unit.
In the complaint, filed April 3 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Drake claims Integrity Realty Company’s negligence was responsible for the deaths of Jacob Drake, 18, and Jacob’s mother Sheila Drake, 51, along with severely injuring Robert Drake.
Robert and Sheila Drake both tried to go in and save their bedridden son Jacob stuck inside a bedroom, but both were unable to and received severe burn injuries. Sheila Drake died about 10 days later, while Robert Drake survived, but suffered burns on over 34 percent of his body, according to the complaint.
The suit was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court due to the management company, Integrity Realty Company, being headquartered there.
The explosion and subsequent fire occurred around 3:15 a.m. Feb. 9 at 451 Springbrook Drive on the southwest side of the building centered on a ground-level unit where the Drakes resided. About 20 people residing in the building’s eight units were displaced in the explosion.
Six days after the explosion/fire, it was discovered there were also dozens of gas leaks in the complex’s other units. Out of the 194 units checked, 85 had some sort of gas leak, according to city of Medina officials, who responded to the scene, along with Columbia Gas and contractors at the request of the Medina Fire Department. It took over 12 hours to inspect all the units and several days to make repairs.
In cases where the units were converted to electric, many of the gas lines had not been shut off and capped, according to those at the scene.
The checks were spurred by residents’ complaints to the fire department, who claimed management failed to address complaints about gas odors. Normally, lines inside units are the responsibility of the property owner, but the city decided to intervene due to the circumstances.
The uncapped gas line in the Drake’s unit that may have caused the explosion reportedly was located in a utility closet where there had previously been a gas dryer. The city reported someone had smelled gas in the area a couple of hours before the explosion and the uncapped line was discovered the morning after by responders on the scene.
Also named as defendants were SPM Properties, the owners of Medina Village, and Phoenix Renovation Corporation, a plumbing company contracted to do water pipe work in the complex in the weeks before the explosion. The complaint claims these parties were also aware of gas leaks and uncapped gas valves in other units, but failed to repair them.
The suit was filed by attorney Jeffrey Friedman of personal injury firm Friedman, Domiano and Smith.
In the complaint, filed April 3 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Drake claims Integrity Realty Company’s negligence was responsible for the deaths of Jacob Drake, 18, and Jacob’s mother Sheila Drake, 51, along with severely injuring Robert Drake.
Robert and Sheila Drake both tried to go in and save their bedridden son Jacob stuck inside a bedroom, but both were unable to and received severe burn injuries. Sheila Drake died about 10 days later, while Robert Drake survived, but suffered burns on over 34 percent of his body, according to the complaint.
The suit was filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court due to the management company, Integrity Realty Company, being headquartered there.
The explosion and subsequent fire occurred around 3:15 a.m. Feb. 9 at 451 Springbrook Drive on the southwest side of the building centered on a ground-level unit where the Drakes resided. About 20 people residing in the building’s eight units were displaced in the explosion.
Six days after the explosion/fire, it was discovered there were also dozens of gas leaks in the complex’s other units. Out of the 194 units checked, 85 had some sort of gas leak, according to city of Medina officials, who responded to the scene, along with Columbia Gas and contractors at the request of the Medina Fire Department. It took over 12 hours to inspect all the units and several days to make repairs.
In cases where the units were converted to electric, many of the gas lines had not been shut off and capped, according to those at the scene.
The checks were spurred by residents’ complaints to the fire department, who claimed management failed to address complaints about gas odors. Normally, lines inside units are the responsibility of the property owner, but the city decided to intervene due to the circumstances.
The uncapped gas line in the Drake’s unit that may have caused the explosion reportedly was located in a utility closet where there had previously been a gas dryer. The city reported someone had smelled gas in the area a couple of hours before the explosion and the uncapped line was discovered the morning after by responders on the scene.
Also named as defendants were SPM Properties, the owners of Medina Village, and Phoenix Renovation Corporation, a plumbing company contracted to do water pipe work in the complex in the weeks before the explosion. The complaint claims these parties were also aware of gas leaks and uncapped gas valves in other units, but failed to repair them.
The suit was filed by attorney Jeffrey Friedman of personal injury firm Friedman, Domiano and Smith.