A growing number of lawsuits have been filed in Texas after the power outages from Winter Storm Uri caused widespread death and destruction in February 2021.
Need a Texas Power Outage Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you were injured or a loved one died as a result of the power outages, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
UPDATE: CPS Energy Hit With Wrongful Death Lawsuits
At least six wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against CPS Energy and ERCOT after they cut power during the winter storms in February 2021. The lawsuits include family members of dialysis patients, people dependent on electric oxygen systems, and elderly people who died of extreme cold.
ERCOT Claims Immunity from Lawsuits After Power Grid Failure
ERCOT (The Electric Reliability Council of Texas) will argue that it is immune from at least 35 lawsuits after February’s winter storm. ERCOT is claiming “sovereign immunity,” which protects state agencies against lawsuits, with some exceptions.
The issue went to the Texas Supreme Court in March, but judges refused to make a decision due to a lack of jurisdiction. Now, ERCOT is asking the Texas Supreme Court to consolidate the lawsuits in a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) so the cases could be handled in a single federal court.
Dozens of Lawsuits Filed After “Texas Freeze” Pushes Bills Higher
At least 30 lawsuits (potentially worth billions of dollars) have been filed by people who are angry about paying massive electricity bills after the “Texas freeze” in February caused power outages and a shortage of natural gas, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Several lawsuits accuse natural gas suppliers of price-gouging and overcharging. One group of lawsuits was filed by CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas, accusing some gas suppliers of hiking prices by 15,000% and “profiteering from scarcity during a declared disaster.”
The Texas freeze was caused by a Polar Vortex that slammed the state with sub-zero temperatures, ice, and snow. There was a 45% drop in natural gas production, mostly due to frozen facilities, and a 40% drop in crude oil production, the largest-ever decline in U.S. history.
What Happened?
After a difficult year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating Winter Storm Uri slammed the U.S. on February 14, 2021, blanketing Texas in record-setting snow, ice, and cold.
The historic weather event caused at least 111 deaths in Texas, countless car accidents, a 100-vehicle pileup on the highway, power outages that shuttered businesses, and major damage to agricultural crops.
4.5 Million Texans Lost Power During Winter Storms
The week-long freeze caused 4.5 million homes and businesses in Texas to lose electricity, some for several days. When the ice began to melt, water poured out of busted pipes, causing flooding and mold damage. The blackouts and cold temperatures caused an estimated $195 billion in damage, making Winter Storm Uri the most expensive disaster in Texas history.
Personal Injuries, Hospitalizations & Deaths
The winter storms in Texas resulted in tragic personal injuries, hospitalizations and deaths. Here are few examples of injury claims:
- Car accidents
- Cold exposure (frostbite, hypothermia, etc.)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Sickness from water contamination
- Fires
- Lack of home oxygen
- Lack of dialysis treatment
- Death from cold exposure
- Death from failure of medical equipment
- And more
Homeowners May File Property Damage Lawsuits
Tens of thousands of Texas homeowners suffered busted pipes, leaky roofs, and other types of expensive property damage as a result of freezing temperatures. Even if you have insurance coverage, our winter storm lawyers may be able to help if you experienced:
- Broken water pipes
- Flooding
- Structural damage to walls, floors, ceilings, etc.
- Roof caved in
- Sheetrock damage
- Mold damage due to water
- Fire damage
- And more
If You Had Property Damage, File a Claim Now
It is important to file a claim as soon as you know that your property was damaged and will need repairs, because many insurance policies require that you file a claim within a limited amount of time.
Business Owners May Seek Compensation for Losses
Thousands of business owners in Texas suffered financial losses because they could not open their doors to customers or employees due to the lack of electricity, loss of water, boil water notices, employees unable to get to work, and damaged property.
ERCOT Should Have Been Prepared
Weather is unpredictable, but severe winter storms are becoming more and more common in Texas. Our state’s power companies should have prepared for subzero temperatures, but instead, they failed to spend the money to winterize their equipment. As a result, millions of people suffered the devastating consequences.
Texas Power Outage Lawsuits
You may be able to file a Texas power outage lawsuit against ERCOT, other power companies, insurance companies, property management, and other responsible parties if you experienced:
- Physical injuries
- Hospitalization or death due to unheated home
- Property damage to your home
- Property damage to your business
- Business owners who lost money or shut down due to power outages or lack of water (including boil water notices that kept you out of business)
What Went Wrong?
Texas is a proudly independent state, and the top energy producer in the U.S. — and yet millions of Texans had to suffer through a freezing winter storm without basic utilities like water, heat, or electricity.
What went wrong? ERCOT is already facing lawsuits from people who say the company should have anticipated subzero temperatures in Texas, and prepared for it.
For example, a cold weather event in February 2011 caused 210 individual generating units owned by ERCOT to experience an outage, affecting 4.4 million customers.
This time around, Winter Storm Uri froze natural gas pipelines and wind turbines that ERCOT failed to winterize to withstand the cold. At the same time, consumer demand for electricity skyrocketed, forcing ERCOT to cut power because there was not enough for everyone.
Am I Joining a Class Action Lawsuit?
The Clark Firm, LLP is filing individual lawsuits as opposed to a class action. This means your financial recovery will be based on your unique circumstance. Unlike a class action, any payout you receive will not be divided with everyone who decides to join the class action.
Need a Power Outage Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
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