Robert Rymers and his mother were injured in the explosion. Their attorneys hope this decision sends a message to CPS Energy.
SAN ANTONIO — A jury awarded millions to the victims of a house explosion in a Bexar county courtroom today as CPS Energy was found liable for the disaster.
The blast happened on Walters Street in May 2021. At the time, Robert Rymers and his mother Virginia were inside.
That decision awarded Rymers and his mother a total of $109.5 million. Their attorneys hope this decision sends a message to CPS Energy.
Almost four years later, Robert with almost 65% of his body covered in severe injuries and his mother also injured in the fire, found justice.
“You’ve got to maintain your gas system if you’re going to operate,” Michael Lyons, one of the attorneys representing the family said.
This is the message Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons representing the family said the jury sent to CPS Energy with this verdict.
The lawsuit claimed 50-year-old Robert Rymers and his mom Virginia were both injured when their rental house on Walters St. burst into flames the night of May 1, 2021. It was the result of a natural gas explosion.
Through their investigation attorneys found and proved to a jury that CPS’s gas systems and the components that make it up are old and aging.
They also discovered the company does not have preventative measures in place.
“It’s not okay to have one that is those things…You don’t actively work to inspect it and understand what pieces of your systems are problems,” said Chris Simmons, one of the attorneys representing the family.
CPS Energy sent KENS 5 this one-sentence response to the verdict:
“We continue to dispute liability and are evaluating our next steps.”
“If CPS is listening hopefully it’s something they will take to heart and make a course change so that other families don’t have to go through this,” Lyons said.
Two other companies were also named in lawsuit but a jury found they were not found liable for the explosion.