San Antonio, Texas — A Bexar County court ruled on Thursday that CPS Energy is responsible for a devastating house explosion in May 2021, awarding a substantial $109.5 million to the victims, Robert Rymers and his mother Virginia. The judgment underlines the demands for greater accountability and safety standards within utility operations.
The explosion, which took place on Walters Street, resulted in severe burns covering nearly 65% of Robert Rymers’ body and significant injuries to his elderly mother. Nearly four years after the incident, the family’s quest for justice culminated in the court’s decision, highlighting the utility’s negligence.
Legal representatives for the Rymers family, Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons, argued successfully that CPS Energy failed to maintain safe operations of its aging gas systems. They pointed out the lack of preventative measures and oversight by the utility as crucial factors contributing to the accident.
The trial revealed that CPS Energy’s infrastructure was outdated and poorly managed, which the lawyers contended was a direct cause of the gas explosion. The verdict aims to prompt CPS Energy to overhaul its safety protocols and ensure such a disastrous event does not recur.
CPS Energy responded to the verdict stating, “We continue to dispute liability and are evaluating our next steps.” This response reflects the company’s ongoing reluctance to accept full responsibility for the incident.
Lyons expressed hope that the verdict would serve as a sobering reminder to CPS and other utilities about the importance of diligent system maintenance and the real-world implications of their oversight. “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,” he stated.
The lawsuit also named two other companies; however, the jury determined they were not liable for the explosion. This decision exclusively places the onus on CPS Energy to rectify the deficiencies within their operations.
This case has not only cast a spotlight on the responsibilities of utility companies to ensure the safety of their infrastructures but also signaled to similar entities about the potential legal and financial repercussions of neglecting these duties.
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