At Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber, we pride ourselves on conducting thorough investigations as part of our cases to secure the best possible outcome for our clients. This approach helped us ensure success in a recent carbon monoxide poisoning case.
In September 2024, we reached a global settlement against a large apartment complex in the amount of $11.75 million.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very dangerous problem in apartments around the country, and cases like these highlight the importance of keeping residents safe from this invisible and odorless but lethal gas,” said Jeremy Tor, Spangenberg partner.
Jeremy and Spangenberg partner Nick DiCello handled the case.
On October 20, 2022, a carbon monoxide leak at an apartment complex in Akron caused injury to a 27-year-old woman, her infant twins, and her mother, who passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
On the night of the leak, the 27-year-old woman was found unresponsive in her apartment and taken by ambulance to a local hospital. She was then life-flighted to the Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. Her twin children were taken by ambulance to Akron Children’s Hospital. Blood tests revealed abnormally high levels of carboxyhemoglobin for the twins, and they were diagnosed with “toxic effect of carbon monoxide from utility gas.”
In November 2023, Spangenberg filed suit on behalf of the family against the property owner and property management company of the apartment complex.
Spangenberg conducted a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the leak, including a site visit with a renowned expert. Discovery included the exchange of documents, numerous depositions, and the exchange of more than a dozen expert reports.
Ultimately, the parties engaged in private mediation, which lasted 13 hours. The $11.75 million settlement resolved all four claims – the woman’s personal injury claim, the twins’ personal injury claims, and the wrongful death claim for the grandmother.
“We were pleased to have resolved all the claims brought forward and attribute our success, in part, to our thorough investigation and preparedness throughout the case,” Jeremy said. “Our settlement provides justice to the family affected by this tragedy and holds responsible those who should have prioritized their residents’ safety.”
