Two Lawsuits Filed in the Death of Eight from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that comes from a number of sources, including vehicles, fuel-burning appliances and engine-powered equipment. Because it is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas, many people don’t know they have carbon monoxide poisoning until it’s too late.

The causes of carbon monoxide are anything that gives off a flame, including wood, coal, gasoline, plastic, paper or cloth burning. The type of appliances that can be a source of CO are furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, grills, small gasoline engines and motor vehicles. If these appliances are in an enclosed area with poor-ventilation, CO poisoning can occur.

Carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuits may be filed against a number of defendants, depending on the circumstances. If a family member dies due to carbon monoxide poisoning, they may recover damages for funeral expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages as a result.

On April 5, 2015, a 36-year-old man and his seven children died inside their home from carbon monoxide poisoning. At the time, police ruled the death accident, citing a gas-powered generator as the cause. The generator was found inside the kitchen in the on-position, but emptied of fuel. Police said the man was using it because power was turned off to the home. According to records, electricity was shut off to the home a month before the family moved in. The power company said a stolen electric meter was being used to provide power to the home and they disconnected it for safety reasons.

Now, family members have filed wrongful death lawsuits alleging the actions of the power company ultimately led to their deaths. The lawsuits — one filed on behalf of the seven children, the other filed on behalf of man’s estate — claim the power company never notified the family that the meter was to be removed and it had a duty to use reasonable care when they did remove the meter from the home. The lawsuits say that as a result of removing the meter, the man and his children died. While no exact figure is given, the lawsuit does specify that the damages the relatives are seeking exceeds $75,000.

Irrelevant of liability, this tragedy is an important reminder of the dangers of this silent, odorless gas.

Risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are highly preventable with a few important safety tips.

1. Install a CO detector in a central location outside sleeping area and on every level of a home. Test the alarm at least once a month.
2. Open garage doors before starting vehicles. If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it.
3. During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
4. Use a generator only in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings. Never use portable generators inside the home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
5. Have your home heating systems (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually by a trained service technician.
6. Never bring a charcoal grill into the house for heating or cooking. Do not barbeque in the garage.
7. Never use a gas range or oven for heating.
8. Provide adequate indoor ventilation when using fireplaces or unvented space heaters.

Know the symptoms:

Symptoms of prolonged, low-level carbon monoxide poisoning “mimic” those of common winter ailments, such as the common cold, flu, and exhaustion. This is why so many cases go undetected until permanent, subtle damage to the brain, heart and other organs and tissues occur.

• Low-level CO poisoning symptoms include:
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea

High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Ultimately death

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