Group launches $2.8 million Regina Beach, Sask., explosion lawsuit

A group of Regina Beach, Sask.property owners have filed a lawsuit against SaskEnergy and six landowners in relation to the explosion on Dec. 3, 2014.

A total of 20individuals and two businesses are seeking damages in excess of$2.8 million. The lawsuit was filed on on Tuesday.

SaskEnergy confirmed in 2014 that a natural gas leak caused the explosion that levelled a home and damaged other properties in Regina Beach.

The community declared a state of emergency after the blast.Nobody was injured in the explosion.

Allegationsmade in thestatement of claim havenot been proven in court. Statements of defence have not been filed.

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SaskEnergy and 6 other defendants

The claim said a portion of SaskEnergy pipe was next to and on the property owned by Mark William Oldershaw, Kathleen Beverly Diane Oldershaw, Jolyan Noel Oldershaw, Yang Bai, Mark Julian Oldershaw and Lara Elizabeth Gaede.

It said the explosion happened"in or around theOldershawproperty. Surrounding properties and vehicles were in the proximity of the explosion."

"The explosion was caused when natural gasescapedfrom the gas line which had ruptured due tosurroundingsoil movement. The escaped natural gas was subsequently ignited by a source of ignition located within the boundaries of theOldershawProperty," the statement reads.

The claim said nearby properties andvehicles suffered significant damage.

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Claim against SaskEnergy

The lawsuit reads the loss from the explosion was "caused by the negligence of SaskEnergy."It says the Crown corporation "breached its duty of care."

The claim alleges SaskEnergy should have known the gas line could have ruptured because of soil movement issues at Regina Beach. And that it should havedesigned a gas line capable of withstanding ground movement.

It says the "breachesof care" caused the gas line to break andproducean explosion.

Claim against property owners

Thelawsuit alleges theexplosionwas also due to negligence from theOldershawproperty owners, including a failure to ensure nothing that would serve as a source of ignition was near escaped natural gas.