North Mac Middle School Carbon Monoxide Litigation

Carbon monoxide poisoning at North Mac Middle School Lawsuit

By Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

The carbon monoxide poisoning at the North Mac Middle school has resulted in litigation by the Brain Injury Law Group, Attorney Gordon Johnson of Chicago. The lawsuits, now numbering 7, contain allegations that contractors involved in installing and maintaining the hot water heaters at the school were negligent. In addition, the lawsuits on behalf of the middle school students who were poisoned include allegations that the school district  (NORTH MAC CUSD #34) was also negligent.  The lawsuits against the school district include these allegations:

Prior to September 15, 2014, Defendants, NORTH MAC CUSD #34, BURGESS & SON, PETERSBURG PLUMBING, and ALLIED DESIGN, and each of them, became aware and had actual knowledge that vent pipes conveying exhaust gases from the hot water heaters and boilers located in the boiler/mechanical equipment room of the 2003 Building Addition did not properly and safely extend above the roof line of a portion of the 2003 Building Addition and that the unsafe and improper condition then and there existing needed to be remedied.

Prior to September 15, 2014, , Defendants, NORTH MAC CUSD #34, BURGESS & SON, PETERSBURG PLUMBING, and ALLIED DESIGN, and each of them, performed work or caused work to be performed on the vent system connected to the hot water heaters and hot water boilers in the 2003 Building Addition which work consisted in whole or in part of further extending the height of the vent pipes above the roof line of the building, and affixing guy wires to the extended vent pipes on one end and to roof vents on the other end, which configuration then remained in place through and including September 15, 2014.

On September 15, 2014, heating in the 2003 building addition was primarily provided via hot water fan coil units fed by two Patterson Kelley Co. Model N-1200 natural gas-fired hot water boilers, each equipped with 1,200,000 Btu/hr. gas input and one pressure relief valve, with gas-fired roof top units providing heating via forced air ducted systems at the multi-purpose room and kitchen areas.

On September 15, 2014, hot water in the 2003 Building Addition was supplied through two natural gas-fired Lochinvar boilers, each equipped with 150,000 Btu/hr. gas input and one pressure relief valve. The boilers fed to a common hot water storage tank. A HATCO 208 volt electric booster, equipped with one pressure relief valve, serviced the kitchen dishwasher.

On September 15, 2014 and prior thereto, the aforesaid Lochinvar boilers and Patterson Kelley Co. Model N-1200 natural gas-fired hot water boilers, were located in the boiler/mechanical equipment room within the 2003 Building Addition.

On or about September 12, 2014, Defendants, NORTH MAC CUSD #34 and BURGESS & SON, and each of them, by and through their employees and/or agents, were present in the boiler/mechanical equipment room of the 2003 Building Addition and performed certain repair and/or maintenance work on the aforesaid Lochinvar hot water heaters, Patterson Kelly Co. hot water boilers, their components, and/or the vent systems attached thereto.

For more on Delayed Onset of Carbon Monoxide Symptoms, click here.

Gordon Johnson

Attorney Gordon Johnson is one of the nations leading brain injury advocates. He is Past-Chair of the TBILG, a national group of more than 150 brain injury advocates. He has spoken at numerous brain injury seminars and is the author of some of the most read brain injury web pages on the internet.

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