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109.5 Verdict

Lyons & Simmons Attorneys Obtain $109.5 Million Verdict Against CPS Energy for 2021 Home Explosion

Lyons and Simmons attorneys recently secured a $109.5 million verdict against CPS Energy after a home explosion in 2021 left two people with severe injuries. The trial team was comprised of Michael Lyons, Chris Simmons, Chris Carr, P. Wes Black, and Michael Wozniak, along with local counsel Omar G. Alvarez of the Law Office of O.G. Alvarez & Associates P.C. in San Antonio.

A San Antonio jury found that CPS Energy failed to properly maintain its gas system, which caused a natural gas leak and then a natural gas explosion and fire. Robert Rymers was severely burned and his mother, Virginia, sustained burns and an air embolism. The Rymers also lost their two family dogs, and their personal possessions and home were completely destroyed. Today, Robert continues to struggle with constant pain and permanent disabilities caused by his burn injuries and both he and Virginia suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

A three-year long investigation determined that CPS Energy originally installed the service line and meter set up in 1960, but CPS employs no preventative maintenance schedule, opting, instead, for a program that is dependent on the customer calling if there is a gas leak . The only documented service calls to this property occurred in 2008 when the meter was found leaking gas, again in 2015 when the meter was found blowing gas, and again in 2021 when the house exploded with Robert and Virginia inside. CPS records show no other documented service of the line or meter set-up. In 2020, the property owner removed all gas appliances, installed electric appliances and shut the gas meter off at the shut-off valve just below the meter. CPS admitted there was no reason natural gas should have been present in the home unless the meter valve failed. There was no telemetry data for the date of the explosion, as CPS claimed it was never reported. CPS admitted to recovering a critical piece of the meter set up that failed, allowing the gas riser to break and leak post explosion. CPS admitted at trial that it lost the piece of pipe that failed. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary that this was a gas explosion, as concluded by both the San Antonio Police Department and Fire Department, CPS Energy has maintained before, during and after the trial, that it bears no responsibility. Thankfully, a Bexar County jury saw it differently.

This case result has quickly garnered widespread media attention, with stories and articles posted by various newsgroups, such as:

  • KENS 5 CBS: “Bexar County jury finds CPS Energy liable in east-side gas explosion, victims awarded millions”
  • KENS 5 CBS YouTube: “Family attorneys react to multi-million verdict finding CPS Energy liable in gas explosion”
  • San Antonio Express-News: “CPS Energy must pay San Antonio woman, son $60 million in 2021 house explosion”
  • Telemundo 60 San Antonio: “CPS Energy pagará $109 millones a víctimas de explosión de gas e incendio”
  • The Texas Lawbook: “CPS Energy Hit with $109.5M Verdict in Residential Explosion Trial”
  • KSAT 12: “CPS Energy ordered to pay $109 million for 2021 home explosion”
  • News 4 SA NBC: “Jury issues more than $100 million verdict against CPS Energy in 2021 home gas explosion”
  • KTSA: “CPS Energy ordered to pay $109 million for damages caused by explosion at East Side home”
  • MYSA: “Timeline: CPS Energy’s $109M lawsuit payout after San Antonio house explosion”

Post-verdict, CPS Energy continues to deny liability for the devastating home explosion that forever changed two lives. When interviewed about the case, Michael Lyons stated, “CPS Energy refused to take responsibility despite the fact that both the San Antonio Police Department’s arson team and the San Antonio Fire Department determined the explosion was caused by natural gas.”

Chris Simmons has also been quoted in various news publications, explaining, “From the moment first responders arrived on the scene, the fuel source was believed to be natural gas, but the investigation ultimately confirmed it. The verdict cannot undo this tragedy, but it serves as an example that our jury system remains the best way for citizens to receive justice.”

If you would like to know more about this $109.5 million verdict result for our client, please browse the news sources listed above. If you want to know more about Lyons & Simmons LLP or need the help of our Texas trial attorneys for a personal injury claim or lawsuit, contact us online or call 844-297-8898 at any time. Thank you.