Gas Disaster Lawsuit Plan Close To Being Finalized

ANDOVER, MA — With the one-year anniversary of the Merrimack Valley gas disaster just days away, attorneys say they will release details within two weeks of a plan to pay out $143 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent company, NiSource Inc. All told, Columbia Gas will pay more than $1 billion to settle lawsuits and make repairs following the Sept. 13, 2018 gas explosions that killed one and damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover.

Attorney John Roddy of Bailey & Glasser told the Eagle-Tribune, which first reported this story, said the settlement covers people who suffered emotional distress. People who sustained physical injuries will have a different process for filing claims. Columbia Gas also previously agreed to pay the three communities money to cover the cost of road repairs.

Related story: Columbia Gas Disaster Settlement: What You Need To Know