CPS Energy disputes liability in lawsuits after San Antonio blasts, citing ongoing NTSB investigation and independent causes for the damages.
SAN ANTONIO — Six weeks after powerful natural gas explosions rocked a northeast San Antonio neighborhood, CPS Energy has now filed court documents refuting liability claims made in two recent lawsuits.
The two lawsuit responses have been filed in the cases involving five people who were critically injured April 21st, when two neighboring homes on Preston Hollow Drive off Thousand Oaks Drive blew up two hours apart.
The suits claim CPS Energy’s natural gas supply lines failed, and the utility should be held responsible for not properly maintaining their delivery network.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified issues with leaks in the high-density polyethylene gas supply lines to the area.
The filing points out that the NTSB investigation continues and a final report has not yet been issued.
With their responses, CPS Energy issued a general denial of the claims, writing they deny “each, and every, all and singular, the allegations.”
They claim the damages were related to independent causes, that the damages were not due to any wrongful acts or omissions, that claims for lost wages and economic damages are subject to limits.
Their response makes the argument that medical and health care expenses should be limited to actual amounts paid.
Their response claims all or some of the injuries were caused by natural conditions or acts of God or by third parties.
They argue against being subject to punitive damages because actions were not taken with a culpable state of mind.
When they move forward, the cases will be heard in different courts, but no dates have been assigned yet.