A Bloomington homeowner is taking Duke Energy to court, claiming a power restoration gone wrong two summers ago turned his North Harstrait Road house into a total loss. The June 23, 2026 lawsuit alleges that when electricity was turned back on after a four-day outage on June 23, 2024, three transformers on the property blew and sparked an electrical fire that destroyed the home. The suit names Duke Energy as the only defendant and seeks roughly $525,000 in damages.
Plaintiff Steve Patterson filed the case in Monroe County Superior Court under case number 53C01-2606-CT-001693. Court filings described by The Indiana Lawyer outline a timeline in which Patterson’s home sat without power for about four days before service was restored. When electricity finally came back, three transformers on the property allegedly exploded and triggered the blaze that consumed the residence.
Filing details and allegations
The complaint levels multiple claims, including negligence, breach of implied and express warranty, breach of good workmanship, and vicarious responsibility for the actions of Duke Energy employees, according to the filing. FOX59 reports the lawsuit is seeking about $525,000 in damages tied to the loss of the house and related costs.
Company response and next steps
Representatives for Duke Energy told FOX59 the company had just received the filing and was reviewing the complaint, and they declined to comment further. The case remains pending in Monroe County Superior Court and will move through the civil docket as both sides exchange records and, potentially, explore settlement talks, according to The Indiana Lawyer.
Why this matters
The lawsuit highlights the gray area that can arise when equipment on private property is tied into a utility’s network. Disputes over what happens when power is restored after an extended outage often hinge on maintenance records, inspection schedules, and notes from crews working the lines. How Patterson’s case plays out could draw more attention to how utilities bring customers back online after major outages and what kind of paper trail they keep when they work on customer-connected equipment.
