A wrongful death lawsuit filed after an explosion at an Orange County apartment complex has been settled.
M M died March 9 after the explosion on March 1 left her critically injured. The explosion happened after she returned home to her recently-leased unit at the Woodhill Apartments, leaving M with third- and fourth-degree burns on more than 40% of her body, the lawsuit claimed.
Her family was suing the property manager and owner, as well as the gas service provider, alleging a wrongful death.
Documents obtained by News 6 show both sides have reached a settlement, but the exact details have not been released.
The lawsuit sought damages in the loss of earnings from the day M was injured to when she died, the loss of income to her family as a result of her death and for all medical and funeral expenses to be paid and a jury trial.
The lawsuit claimed Orange County fire crews located an unplugged natural gas line in M’s laundry room, alleging it was determined “that gas leaked out of this unplugged natural gas line and had the line been lawfully plugged natural gas would not have been able to leak into the apartment and cause this fatal gas explosion.”
Investigators did not outright confirm if the unplugged line was the cause of the explosion.
M’s husband, R F, told News 6 that he, his wife and their three children moved to Florida two years ago for a “new beginning.” Following time spent in Altamonte Springs, M found Woodhill Apartments, where F recounted the unthinkable.
“She returned home at 9:28 (a.m.) and then the gas pipes exploded at 9:33 (a.m.) — not even five minutes later,” F said. “When I saw her, it tore me down. I don’t want to say much in case my kids come across this footage, but it’s severe. Very severe. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, and the first time seeing this being my wife — I’m not even eating, I’m not sleeping, I’m worried about my mental state at this point.”
Orange County Fire Rescue told News 6 there have been four calls to Woodhill Apartments from Jan. 1, 2023, to March 5, 2024, where a gas odor was reported, though the fire department noted its response does not confirm a gas odor was detected.
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source: clickorlando
