DoubleTree Hotel owners sue over Realty Tower blast, claiming negligence

The owners of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in downtown Youngstown have filed a lawsuit seeking over $1 million in damages from multiple entities they allege were negligent in connection with a natural gas explosion at the nearby Realty Tower in May 2024 that claimed the life of Chase Bank employee Akil Drake, and displaced tenants at International Towers.

Youngstown Stambaugh Hotel, LLC, and Youngstown Stambaugh Parking Holdings, LLC, filed the complaint in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The lawsuit names as defendants Realty Tower owner YO Properties 47; LY Property Management; Greenheart Companies, the contractor hired for utility removal; and several Enbridge companies, including The East Ohio Gas Company dba Enbridge Gas Ohio, as well as Dominion Energy.

According to the lawsuit, construction work on May 28, 2024, to remove a natural gas line beneath and adjacent to the Realty Tower resulted in a "catastrophic explosion." The blast allegedly caused significant physical damage to the DoubleTree hotel across the street and led the city's fire commissioner to restrict access to the area, including the hotel and its parking garage, for 75 days. The closure allegedly resulted in substantial loss of business income.

The hotel owners state in the complaint that while their insurance with Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut covered some of the losses, the remaining uninsured damages exceed $1 million.

The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the defendants. It claims YO Properties and LY Property Management failed to vet contractors and inspect the premises for hazards properly. The suit also alleges Greenheart was negligent in the gas line removal, failing to adhere to industry standards and take necessary precautions.

Furthermore, the complaint contends that the Enbridge and Dominion Energy entities were negligent in their handling of the natural gas supply and for failing to adequately communicate with the contractors about the gas lines.

In addition to negligence, the lawsuit includes counts of liability against Greenheart, Enbridge, and Dominion Energy, arguing that the construction and removal of gas lines and the supply and distribution of natural gas are inherently dangerous "ultrahazardous activities." The suit also alleges negligence against Greenheart, the Enbridge companies, and Dominion Energy for alleged violations of Ohio statutes related to excavation and underground utilities.

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $25,000 in compensatory damages and have requested a jury trial.

As of Tuesday, none of the defendants had filed a response to the allegations.