Information from the Associated Press and staff reports
The family of a woman who was killed in a natural gas explosion in downtown Bozeman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against NorthWestern Energy.
Tara Reistad Bowman, 36, was working in the Montana Trails Gallery on Main Street when she was killed in the March 5 explosion that destroyed half a city block. Her husband filed the suit in Gallatin County District Court against NorthWestern and the company's system integrity manager, Leonard Leveaux.
A crack in a threaded joint on a two-inch service line "had deteriorated, becoming brittle, dangerous and defective" before to the explosion, according to attorney Mike Cok. The lawsuit also states that the crack allowed "natural gas to escape and enter the building," causing the blast.
NorthWestern spokeswoman Claudia Rapkoch declined to comment on the legal action, saying that the company had not seen the lawsuit.
This is the third lawsuit filed against the utility company in the wake of the deadly March 5 explosion.
A lawsuit was filed against NorthWestern Energy and Leveaux on Thursday, Sept. 24 in Gallatin County District Court by owners who lost buildings and businesses in the explosion. Named as plaintiffs in that lawsuit are Ann Bates, the owner of the building located at 221 and 223 East Main Street, which housed the Montana Ballet Company, LillyLu children's store and Tolstedt Architects; Sheryl Sanders, owner and operator of LillyLu children's boutique at 223 East Main Street; and Brian Tolstedt and Judy Doerr, owners and operators of Tolstedt Architects at 221 East Main Street.
Also in September, another lawsuit was filed by American Legion Post 14 in Bozeman and its manager Tom Jones against NorthWestern Energy, claiming the company and its officials knew that the natural gas service line behind the Montana Trails Art Gallery had deteriorated and was unsafe.
But it's a different story from NorthWestern Energy. In August, CEO Bob Rowe said the utility company believes it is not legally liable for the explosion and that "natural forces" are likely to blame for the cracked service line.
NorthWestern officials also say there is no evidence that the line or threaded fitting were defective or had been installed improperly.
