Petrochemical expert witness Douglas Buchan testified for the plaintiff in the U.S. District Court in Green Bay and describes how the lawsuit led to the State of Wisconsin changing the law to cover and protect the public with the installation of propane systems.
The Higdon family filed a complaint against Cedar Grove Resort, some construction companies, a utility and their insurance companies claiming that negligence caused propane explosions in Ellison Bay in 2006. The fire caused the death of Patrick and Margaret Higdon and injured twelve others. The family was awarded a settlement worth more than $21 million.
The case led to the State of Wisconsin changing the law in that State to cover and protect the public with the installation of propane systems in that state. This new regulation will save lives and increase the safety of propane gas pipeline installations and systems in the State of Wisconsin. All the propane gas pipelines that are currently installed and those being installed underground in public places are now required to be registered with the State’s One Call office. Suppliers and construction companies must follow new rules when dealing with propane and the law creates a communication system for underground gas lines.