JUNE 2, 2015
CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
A Cape May County couple, seriously injured during a
November 2013 propane explosion that destroyed their house, has reached a $2
million settlement after suing the propane company and the contractor that
failed to properly disconnect the propane lines, attorneys for the couple
announced Monday.
James and Evelyn McCarty, both 69, of the Villas section of
Lower Township, survived critical injuries in the accident.
The couple had stopped using propane when they converted to
natural gas earlier in the year. The contractor cut the line beneath the house
and turned off the valve on the external propane tank. The valve was not
properly secured or marked as a danger, according to the lawsuit.
When the couple's gas fireplace did not work, a neighbor
noticed the propane valve was off and mistakenly turned it back on. Fumes collected beneath the house.
The next day, Nov. 7, 2013, James McCarty took a shower,
causing the hot water heater to ignite the gas, which exploded.
"They are amazingly lucky to survive," said Shanin
Specter, one of the Philadelphia attorneys who represented the couple.
"They made nearly a full recovery from the explosion, which is hard to
believe when you look at what happened to their home."
The house exploded with such force that the blast could be
felt miles away, police said at the time. Neighbors rushed into the burning
home to save the McCartys. James McCarty suffered serious burns to his legs.
His wife suffered from burns and two broken legs.
Months earlier, the couple had taken advantage of a
promotion by the local utility to switch to natural gas. The utility
recommended Shore Guys Heating & Air Conditioning L.L.C. to install
service.
Shore Guys installed the gas connection, cut the propane
lines, and turned off the tank's valve. South Jersey Fuel & Propane, a
private company, was to remove the tank after the McCartys canceled their
account.
In the settlement announced Monday, Shore Guys agreed to pay
$1.625 million. South Jersey Fuel & Propane agreed to pay $275,000. A woman
who answered the phone at the propane company on Monday said, "We have no
comment, thank you," and hung up.
Veronica Newby, owner of Shore Guys, said on Monday that she
was relieved that the matter has been closed.
The McCarty family "have been and will continue to be
in our thoughts and prayers," Newby said. "We hope this will bring
some closure to the entire McCarty family and their loved ones."