Victims of the catastrophic New Year’s Day 2023 explosion in Port Richmond are suing Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), PECO, the city, and contractors, alleging negligence led to the tragedy.
The explosion on the 3500 block of Miller Street leveled three homes, injured five people, and caused the death of 70-year-old Waldemar Janiszewski after 16 months of medical care.
Two lawsuits filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas accuse the defendants of failing to maintain infrastructure and ignoring potential risks.
Plaintiffs claim that a natural gas leak caused the explosion and that warning signs were ignored for years.
The lawsuits, part of the Port Richmond trial over the disaster, include Janiszewski’s estate, Michael Schofield, 58, Maria Mardula, 66, and John Sotomayor, 56, who all suffered serious injuries.
Sotomayor, a chef, has been unable to work since sustaining burns, broken ribs, and head trauma.
Other plaintiffs, all explosion victims, report extensive injuries, including spinal fractures and burns, requiring prolonged medical treatments. They are seeking financial compensation for their suffering and losses.
PGW’s investigation found no leaks in its infrastructure, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) confirmed that gas mains and service lines on the block were intact.
PGW maintains the explosion did not involve its equipment. PECO, which does not provide natural gas service to Philadelphia residents, also denies involvement, pointing to PUC findings.
Attorneys for the victims argue that further discovery is necessary to determine the root cause, as investigations did not include gas lines within homes.
The city fire marshal ruled the explosion accidental but has not released detailed findings.
The lawsuits, filed near the two-year anniversary of the New Year’s Day 2023 explosion, highlight ongoing concerns about accountability for the incident, which left Miller Street residents grappling with profound physical and emotional losses.
Both PGW and PECO stand by their investigations but declined to comment on the litigation.
