A Minnesota family lost their beloved son and brother after a tragic house explosion broke out in South St. Paul. Early Thursday morning, first responders received reports of a fire and explosion at a house on the 1200 block of South Ninth Avenue. When they arrived at the scene, the house had significant structural damage and was fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews with the South Metro Fire Department quickly put out the fire, which produced a plume of smoke so high it was visible from multiple traffic cameras along I-494.
Sadly, one man died in the blast. His family identified him as 44-year-old Ryan Richards, fondly remembered as “Ryanita.” Ryan lived in the house to help care for his 77-year-old mother, Ester Muñoz Richards. Ester was not home when the explosion broke out. She told People Magazine that she had been staying with a friend. Ryan’s sister Nhu Richards, organized a GoFundMe to help support her family. A neighbor told the Star Tribune that Ester and Ryan were friendly neighbors and Ryan had a large garden that he shared with their community.
An investigation into the cause and origin of the explosion is underway by the South St. Paul Police Department, South Metro Fire Department, Minnesota State Fire Mashal’s Office, and Xcel Energy.
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House Explosion Lawsuit Information
If your family lost a loved one in a house explosion, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against the wrongdoers whose negligence caused their death. While no amount of money could ever make up for your loss, seeking justice through an explosion wrongful death lawsuit will hold negligent parties accountable and provide your family with financial support during this difficult time.
An experienced explosion lawyer will conduct an independent investigation to determine who is liable for causing the explosion. If there is sufficient evidence to support your wrongful death claim, you may be able to take legal action against the following parties.
- Gas company
- Propane company that serviced your propane tank before it exploded
- Landlord
- Construction company
- Contractor or subcontractor
- Component manufacturer
- Maintenance company
- Installation company
- City, county, or state
It is important to talk to an experienced explosion lawyer as soon as possible because laws called “statutes of limitations,” which vary by state, may limit the amount of time you have to file a claim.
Contact an Experienced Explosion Attorney
Pritzker Hageman is one of the few law firms in the country with experience representing burn survivors and families who lost their loved ones. The Pritzker Hageman explosion lawyers have won groundbreaking settlements and verdicts for our clients in some of the largest recoveries in American history. Attorney Eric Hageman, who leads our explosion legal team, has been interviewed by WCCO News about the need for more safety warnings and increased transparency from gas companies to protect the public from catastrophic house explosions.
For a free, no-obligation consultation about your case, please call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or fill out the form below.