$143M settlement resolves class actions over gas explosions

A $143 million settlement has been reached to resolve all the class action lawsuits over damages stemming from the Sept. 13 natural gas explosions in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover, Massachusetts, Columbia Gas and its parent company NiSource announced on July 29.

The class of plaintiffs includes thousands of residents and businesses, according to Columbia Gas, which said the settlement was the result of a voluntary mediation process involving several months of negotiations.

The utility said the settlement was part of the $1 billion it has dedicated to recovery efforts, including its claims process, replacement of nearly 18,500 appliances in homes and businesses, temporary housing for more than 2,000 families, and separate settlements with the three municipalities, with the Figueroa family of Lawrence, which experienced several injuries, and with the family of Leonel Rondon, the Lawrence teenager killed in the incident.

Outside of the class action suit Columbia Gas is still processing claims, the company said.