Judge gives final approval of $6M wrongful death settlement from Realty Building blast

Akile Drake

YOUNGSTOWN Mahoning County Probate Court Judge Robert Rusu has given his final approval of a wrongful death settlement for the family of a man killed in the May 28, 2024, natural gas explosion at the Realty Building in Downtown Youngstown.

The settlement, totaling $6.1 million, stems from a lawsuit filed by the family of Akil Drake, 27, who died in the explosion. After attorney fees, the family would receive $3,600,550.07 from the settlement

The lawsuit named several parties, including Yo Properties 47, LLC; LY Property Management (doing business as Youngstown Live Property Management); A Nieder Architecture; and MS Consultants.

Records show that Yo Properties 47 LLC is to pay $3 million. Yo Properties 47 is owned by Brian Angelill, owner of the now-demolished Realty Building, and a co-owner of GreenHeart Companies, whose employee reportedly cut the gas line that led to the explosion.

LY Property Management, also known as Youngstown Live Property Management and GreenHeart Companies, is associated with the payment. State records indicate Sarah Marchionda as the registering agent in 2021, with Jacqueline Marchionda, wife of developer Dominic Marchionda, listed as the agent after the explosion.

Enbridge/Dominion is to pay $2.9 million. Nieder Architecture of Boardman is to pay $100,000, and MS Consultants of Youngstown is also to pay $100,000.

Under the distribution, Drake's mother is to receive 50 percent of the net settlement, about $1,800,275. Drake’s sister is to receive 40 percent, roughly $1,440,220. Drake's paternal grandparents are each to receive 1.5 percent, totaling $108,016, and seven half-siblings are to receive one percent each, approximately $36,005 per individual.