U.S.

Lawsuit Filed Against Columbia Gas After Explosions In Massachusetts

It's likely the first of many lawsuits to be filed against Columbia Gas and its parent company.

Lawsuit Filed Against Columbia Gas After Explosions In Massachusetts
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Lawyers filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against one gas company after pipelines in three Massachusetts towns caused explosions and fires. 

The explosions happened Thursday evening. One person died and a dozen more were injured. About 8,600 people were affected and most had to temporarily evacuate their homes.

Tuesday's lawsuit reportedly accuses Columbia Gas and its parent company of negligence. It asks for compensation for residents who had to evacuate but escaped the events without injury or home damage. 

It comes a day after a letter from the state’s U.S. senators said pressure in the towns’ gas systems read 12 times higher than it should have been.

Columbia Gas has come under scrutiny for similar issues before. A local news outlet reported last week the company has been fined $100,000 over the last seven years for safety violations, including improper pressure testing. 

The company's president announced on Tuesday that it's donating $10 million to help people affected by the explosions and fires. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incidents.