ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The family of a woman who died about a week after an explosion at her Orange County apartment is now suing the property owner and manager, as well as the gas service provider, alleging wrongful death.
Mikeanesha Moore died March 9 after the explosion on March 1 left her critically injured. The fiery blast occurred shortly after she returned home to her recently-leased unit at the Woodhill Apartments, leaving Moore with what the lawsuit claims were third- and fourth-degree burns on more than 40% of her body.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed April 2, amends a complaint filed March 8. It seeks damages in the loss of earnings from the day Moore was injured to when she died, the loss of income to her family as a result of her death and for all medical and funeral expenses to be paid, calling for a jury trial.
Named in the lawsuit are SPT Wah Woodhill LLC, Highmark Residential LLC and the Lake Apopka Natural Gas District, respectively identified in the litigation as the apartment complex’s owner, managing organization and gas services provider.
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The lawsuit claims Orange County fire crews located an unplugged natural gas line in Moore’s laundry room, alleging it was determined “that gas leaked out of this unplugged natural gas line and had the line been lawfully plugged natural gas would not have been able to leak into the apartment and cause this fatal gas explosion.” Investigators have yet to outright confirm if the unplugged line was the cause of the explosion.
Also mentioned in the lawsuit are alleged years of complaints regarding the smell of leaking gas in the 600 building of the apartment complex, where Moore had signed a lease about two weeks prior.
This natural gas line was not plugged when the Plaintiff and her family began their lease approximately two weeks before the fatal gas explosion despite multiple agents of the Defendants entering the apartment after the prior lease expired. The prior tenant of this apartment witnessed this fatal unplugged gas line stuffed with a plastic garbage bag instead of being safely plugged and was not provided a licensed gas person to properly plug and inspect the gas line. This prior tenant smelled leaking natural gas in this same apartment for months prior to this fatal accident and was never provided a proper inspection by the Defendants. After the fatal explosion the gas line was plugged by the fire department as well as several other gas lines in the same apartment building. Another gas line in MIKEANESHA MOORE’S apartment remained unplugged for weeks even after the explosion.
CASE NO.: 48-2024-CA-002046 | AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR WRONGFUL DEATH | GENERAL ALLEGATIONS (item No. 9)
Moore’s husband, Raven Fondia, told News 6 that he, his wife and their three children moved to Florida two years ago for a “new beginning.” Following time spent in Altamonte Springs, Moore found Woodhill Apartments, where Fondia recounted the unthinkable.
“She returned home at 9:28 (a.m.) and then the gas pipes exploded at 9:33 (a.m.) — not even five minutes later,” Fondia said. “When I saw her, it tore me down. I don’t want to say much in case my kids come across this footage, but it’s severe. Very severe. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, and the first time seeing this being my wife — I’m not even eating, I’m not sleeping, I’m worried about my mental state at this point.”
Orange County Fire Rescue told News 6 there have been four calls to Woodhill Apartments from Jan. 1, 2023, to March 5, 2024, where a gas odor was reported, though the fire department noted its response does not confirm a gas odor was detected.
“I think the significance of this case is that we’re hoping that this will be a safer city, state and country by everybody looking around and making sure that if there’s a gas line where an appliance was removed and not replaced with another appliance, that a cap was put on that line,” said the family’s attorney, Richard Troutman.
We went back to Woodhill Apartments a little more than a month after the explosion to see how neighbors were coping since the tragic incident.
“Now, our kids are worried about when they come home if their mom or grandmother or any parent is going to be, you know, in a situation the same as Mikeanesha,” said Woodhill Apartments resident Jacqueline Young.
CEO Brent E. Haywood with Lake Apopka Natural Gas District issued a statement regarding the explosion Wednesday:
Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those impacted by the March 1 explosion in the Woodhill Apartments community.
Since Jan. 1, 2023, Lake Apopka Natural Gas District has received 54 total calls regarding potential gas leaks within properties in that community. We always respond immediately to any such call as an emergency and our response continues until any risks are identified and eliminated. Our records indicate that we followed proper procedures in response to every call, including inspecting apartments to identify whether a leak existed, and if so, to cap the leak, shut appropriate valves and provide instructions for having a licensed plumber complete repairs.
Our employees train for these situations and we coordinate training with local emergency responders to assure that we provide the safest, most reliable, energy service to our customers and communities.
Lake Apopka Natural Gas District has been in full support of the ongoing investigation and has been sharing all relevant information with law enforcement and fire officials. We completed a thorough internal investigation and found nothing to indicate that our distribution system, procedures, or operational practices contributed to the tragic incident. The Lake Apopka Natural Gas District distribution system is safe and will remain so with the diligence that our communities deserve.
We are here to support the community and most importantly those impacted through the healing process during this difficult time.
Brent E. Haywood, Lake Apopka Natural Gas District CEO
Read the lawsuit below:
CASE NO.: 48-2024-CA-002046 by Brandon Hogan on Scribd
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