$11-Million Award in Louisiana Gas Theft Explosion Case

摘要

In July 2010, a jury in St. Landry Parish, La. returned a verdict that, with interest charges, was more than $11 million against CenterPoint Energy, a natural gas utility. The plaintiffs were the children and grandchildren of a man who broke a lock installed by CenterPoint when the company shut off his service for non-payment. When the man initiated illegal gas service to his house, he inadvertently allowed gas to escape from an open gas line. The gas exploded, injuring the man, his wife, his four children, and his infant grandchild. The case is Jones v. CenterPoint Energy.