Rustic Ridge neighbors file additional lawsuits ahead of house explosion anniversary

Neighbors have filed three new lawsuits against several companies just ahead of the two-year anniversary of a house explosion in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood that killed six and caused damage throughout the housing plan.

The suits, filed throughout early August, come after family members of those killed in the blast brought litigation in late July.

They alleged a failure to vent what they say was an overpressurized gas line or repair an “unchecked” leak from a 2.5-inch gash in an underground pipe led to the Aug. 12, 2023, disaster.

Heather Oravitz, 51, Plum’s director of community development, died that day. Her husband, Paul, 56, an ultrasound sonographer, died four days later.

Also killed on the day of the blast were four friends and neighbors who had been in the Oravitz home: Michael Thomas, 57, Plum’s borough manager; Kevin Sebunia, 55, a sales consultant; and father and son Casey Clontz, 38, and Keegan Clontz, 12.

The new suits were filed by three families: the Napoleons, Smiths and Kolankowskis.

Attorneys representing the families make nearly identical claims about the cause of the explosion as the suits filed by the victims’ families in July.

Richard, Beth Ann and Jack Napoleon live across the street from the site of the former Oravitz home. The family was forced to rebuild their home after it sustained immense damage in the blast.

The site of Harrison and Kelly Smith’s house, which sat directly next to the Oravitz home, remains vacant after it was demolished because of its condition after the explosion.

Jennifer and Rafal Kolankowski live a few doors down from the Oravitz home on the corner of Rustic Ridge and Brookside drives. The family didn’t return to their home for months after the disaster.

Authorities have not reached any official conclusion about the cause of the explosion.

But the lawyers theorize odorless natural gas from the leaking pipe migrated underground into the Oravitzes’ basement and continued to power a water heater, even though the appliance’s gas supply had been shut off.

Their complaints accuse two energy companies — Delmont-based Penneco Oil Co. and Peoples Gas — of being aware of an overpressurized gas line but not fixing it.

The lawsuits also allege A.O. Smith, the Milwaukee company that made a water heater in the Oravitz home, failed to notify consumers of the “risk of an explosion” when burning an external fuel source.

And they found fault with the developer that built the Rustic Ridge subdivision for establishing it near three Penneco natural gas wells.

According to a complaint filed by their attorneys, Rafal Kolankowski suffered a concussion as a result of the blast, and he and his wife, Jennifer, continue to suffer emotional distress because of the incident.

Harrison and Kelly Smith both suffered “bodily impact” as a result of the explosion, according to their complaint. Harrison, who had been performing yard work that morning, was launched across his backyard, and Kelly, pregnant at the time, was also moved while sitting in her living room with her 2-year-old, the complaint said.

The two also continue to suffer emotional distress, according to the complaint.

Beth Ann and Jack Napoleon were both moved by the force of the explosion, which destroyed nearly every window in their home, according to the complaint. In addition to the emotional distress suffered by the family, Beth Ann suffered burns to her shoulder as she attempted to help during rescue efforts, the complaint said.

The Napoleons’ complaint also seeks damages for the loss of contents and personal belongings inside their home.

Though he said the Napoleons had not lost nearly as much as the families of those killed, Chris Miller, the attorney representing the Napoleons, said he hopes the suit can offer them some justice.

“I hope we can help them in terms of their losses resulting from this,” Miller said.

So far, he said, he hasn’t communicated with other attorneys representing victim families and neighbors.

John Gismondi, who represents the Smiths and Kolankowskis, spoke in similar terms.

He said there are certainly “more important cases” resulting from the explosion, but he said his clients continue to suffer emotionally from the incident.

In addition to the the suits filed by the families of those killed and now their neighbors, Allstate and Erie insurance brought nearly three dozen lawsuits against the same companies on July 31 using the names of their clients as plaintiffs in an attempt to recoup the money they paid in insurance claims.

Nearly all of the clients were unaware they would be named, including the Napoleons.

In early August, State Farm and Mutual Benefit insurance also filed similar suits using their company names.

Ben Wallace, chief operating officer of Penneco, told TribLive on Wednesday he could not comment on active litigation.

Peoples, A.O. Smith and Grasinger Homes did not immediately respond to TribLive requests for comment.