DETROIT — Attorneys from Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., a Michigan-based personal injury law firm, announced today they have filed an amended complaint in its mass lawsuit case against a Detroit steam company.
The amended complaint includes the names of 17 additional victims, each of whom suffered burns to their legs and feet from steam emitting from manhole covers in Detroit, Mich. The family-owned law firm represents a total of 37 clients in the mass lawsuit.
The lawsuit names Detroit Thermal, LLC, Detroit Renewable Energy, LLC and Project Mist HoldCo, LLC as defendants.
Detroit Thermal serves commercial and industrial customers in downtown Detroit and provides heating and cooling to more than 100 buildings throughout the greater downtown Detroit area through an underground network.
Project Mist HoldCo, a New York-based company, purchased Detroit Renewable Energy, the parent company of Detroit Thermal, in November 2017. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) regulates Detroit Thermal.
The complaint states the companies failed to control the steam emitted from boiling hot steam pipes beneath Detroit’s downtown streets, and the defendants failed to warn pedestrians and others about the dangerous conditions that could lead to burns.
The lawsuit details all 37 injuries, which date to a 2012 manhole burn outside Comerica Park and include multiple burn instances in 2019. The steam burn victims reside from Wayne, Washtenaw, Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw and more counties across Michigan, along with several counties in Ohio.
“The amended complaint includes 17 additional victims, all of whom suffered burn injuries in Detroit,” said trial attorney Nicolas A. Vesprini of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. “It’s clear that this is an ongoing safety hazard and it’s our goal with this lawsuit to instigate operational changes in Detroit so that pedestrians can safely walk the streets and sidewalks.”
The lawsuit states several victims suffered multiple steam burn injuries from manhole covers located near TCF Center, Ford Field and Comerica Park.
Buckfire Law Launches Interactive Detroit Steam Burn Map
In an effort to educate and warn pedestrians of potentially hazardous manholes in Detroit, Buckfire Law has published an interactive map identifying the locations of where each of the 37 steam burn victims suffered steam burns.
The locations are identified by pin drops on the map, each of which provides details of a specific case, including the date of an incident as well as photos of the injuries sustained.
The map is shareable and can be embedded on all websites and platforms. To add the map below to your website, copy and paste the following:
<iframe src=”https://buckfirelaw.com/map/” allowfullscreen=”” frameborder=”0″ width=”100%” height=”1200″></iframe>
About Steam Burn Injury Attorney Nicolas Vesprini
Nicolas A. Vesprini earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2003 from the University of Detroit – Mercy School of Law where he served as the Executive Director of Moot Court Board, represented the law school in national moot court competition, and was an active member of the Student Bar Association Board of Governors, and a Book Award recipient.
Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., Vesprini served as a partner at a preeminent insurance defense law firm with a focus on defense litigation in catastrophic first-party automobile claims, third-party auto negligence, personal injury, premises liability and general negligence.
Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.: Michigan Personal Injury Law Firm
Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. is a top-rated Michigan personal injury and accident law firm. Founded in 1969, Buckfire Law has earned the highest possible ratings in the legal profession for skill and integrity.
The Southfield, Michigan-based law firm takes great pride in providing the best possible legal representation to the people who need them the most.