Durham, North Carolina – After a natural gas explosion severely burned a tenant inside his rental home, the state Supreme Court ruled that the landlord could not be sued for negligence or other claims due to a lack of evidence showing the owner was aware of necessary house repairs or a potential gas leak. This decision overturned a previous ruling by a Court of Appeals panel in 2022 that allowed civil claims against the landlord, William V. Lucas, to proceed to a jury trial.
The explosion, which occurred in April 2017, left the tenant, Anthony Terry, in a coma for four months with ongoing pain and limited mobility. The Court of Appeals noted that there had been previous reports of a gas leak in the property, with both the natural gas company and fire department responding to the home multiple times before the incident.
While the Residential Rental Agreements Act of 1977 does impose a duty on landlords to make repairs upon receiving notice of issues, the Supreme Court found that Terry never informed Lucas of the water leak or gas-related concerns in the home. Associate Justice Tamara Barringer explained that the landlord cannot be held liable for issues he was unaware of and had not been properly notified about.
In dissenting, Associate Justice Allison Riggs argued that the landlord did have a duty to maintain the property in good working order, raising questions about negligence in the upkeep of the gas-fired furnace and related piping. However, the majority opinion focused on the lack of communication from Terry regarding these issues as a deciding factor in the case.
The case attracted attention from various advocacy groups and legal defense organizations, with Public Service Co. of North Carolina also named as a defendant before having claims against them dismissed. Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s decision highlights the importance of clear communication between tenants and landlords regarding maintenance issues to ensure a safe living environment.