Lawsuits Remain After 2020 House Explosion in Dubuque

More than a year and a half after a natural gas explosion destroyed a home and damaged others in Dubuque, two lawsuits related to the incident are still  pending. One was filed by two men who said they were seriously injured in the incident. The lawsuits filed in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County stem from the September 28, 2020, explosion that occurred after a contractor struck a natural gas main while drilling to install fiber-optic cable. Gas filled the residence on Loras Boulevard and was ignited by an unknown source. Initially, 16 nearby buildings were deemed uninhabitable, displacing 54 residents. Both lawsuits were filed against Price Industrial Electric Inc., the contractor for the utility work, alleging negligence on the company’s part. One of the lawsuits was filed by two Dubuque men, Timothy Clayton and Steven Seippel, who allege that Price engaged in negligent conduct during its work prior to the explosion. The suit states that the ensuing house explosion seriously injured Clayton and Seippel, causing severe hearing loss and tinnitus.