The families of three people who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Nahant last year have filed a lawsuit against a Marblehead plumbing and heating company, Bartlett & Steadman.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in Essex County Superior Court on Jan. 15, claims the company’s negligence and failure to follow safety procedures led to the deaths. It also names the company’s owner, Michael Steadman, and U.S. Boiler Company as defendants.
“Despite explicit Massachusetts safety regulations, B&S and Steadman failed to obtain necessary permits, ignored instillation standards, and allowed unlicensed workers to perform critical tasks,” stated the complaint and demand for jury trial document.
The victims — 77-year-old John Benson, his 74-year-old sister-in-law Youngae Benson, and his 45-year-old nephew Andrew Carruth — were found dead in their Cottage Street home on Jan. 8, 2024.
The lawsuit describes their deaths as a preventable tragedy that could have been avoided if the proper safety measures had been followed.
Bartlett & Steadman installed a new gas boiler in Benson’s home in July 2023. Massachusetts law requires permits and inspections for gas appliance installations, but the company allegedly skipped these steps, which the victims’ families argue contributed to the deadly carbon monoxide leak.
Shortly after the installation, Benson reportedly noticed problems with the boiler and reached out to the company multiple times for help.
On July 31, just days after the installation, he called to report that a light on the front of the boiler was not working. Months later, on Nov. 6, he reported that the boiler was leaking, and on Nov. 13, he said a part of the system, called the “condensate box plug,” was loose.
The lawsuit claims that despite these repeated concerns, Bartlett & Steadman never sent anyone to inspect or repair the boiler.
The complaint argues that had the proper permits been obtained, inspections would have taken place, and the deadly issue could have been detected and fixed. The victims’ families believe that the lack of oversight directly led to their loved ones’ deaths.
In addition to seeking financial compensation, the families also hope this case will lead to changes in state laws. They want new legislation to impose penalties on contractors who fail to obtain permits and follow safety regulations when their negligence results in serious harm or death. They argue that stronger enforcement of safety standards could prevent future tragedies.
Bartlett & Steadman, a company that has been in business since 1952, has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and financial damages, though it does not specify an amount. The victims’ families are determined to hold the company accountable and prevent similar tragedies from happening to others in the future.