In a recent development, a lawsuit has been filed against Forest City Erectors, Inc. and R&T Sheet Metal Fabricators following the hazardous explosion at the I, Schumann & Co. facility in Bedford, Ohio. The calamity, which took place on February 20, 2023, tragically claimed lives, inflicted severe injuries, and caused extensive damage to the surrounding area. Benzinga said the personal injury lawsuit, representing eighteen victims, was brought forward in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas last Thursday. This case, marked under case number CV-24-102974, searches for justice after the explosion, which has profoundly impacted the community.
Danielle Mullins previously filed a lawsuit against me. Schumann and the two businesses above after her husband, Steven Mullins, perished in the explosion. After an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it was indicated that the incident could have been avoided. OSHA's findings highlighted preventable circumstances leading to the disaster, as reported by cleveland.com. The recent suit, however, does not list I. As a defendant, Schumann focuses on the businesses that performed work at the facility.
The explosion's impact did not spare the infrastructure, leaving the I. Schumann's Alexander Road building was significantly damaged, and debris was hundreds of feet away. The catastrophic event called for a response from sixty firefighters from 14 departments. A lawsuit filed last week cited significant injuries sustained by 13 plaintiffs, including major burns and disfigurement. Attorney Jordan Lebovitz was vocal about the severity of the injuries, telling Cleveland19 News, "It is a true tragedy of mass proportions. A lot of individuals we represent suffered very severe and disfiguring burns to portions of their body, including their face, back, hands, arms, and legs. It is quite unfortunate."
The root cause of the explosion was identified by OSHA as a result of water coming into contact with molten metal, initiating a steam explosion. "There’s no question this is a preventable incident. Many failures are involved, and we are just scratching the surface by filing this lawsuit. Now, it’s time to collect even more data and evidence. There’s a multitude of failures here. There’s no question because we know that a furnace should not explode," Lebovitz asserted in an interview with Cleveland19 News. The explosion's aftermath continues to pose significant challenges, with the I. Schumann and Co.'s plant has remained shut since that day. Investigations by OSHA led to the citing of the company for six violations and proposing penalties amounting to $62,500.
