Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a suit against Liberty Utilities (Midstates Natural Gas) Corp. for violations of the Missouri Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act following a deadly explosion in Lexington.

The lawsuit alleges that Liberty Utilities falsely told an excavator that all its gas pipelines had been properly marked at a Lexington job site. Relying on that assurance, the contractor began excavation work and struck an unmarked gas main. Natural gas leaked into the community for hours before it ignited, leveling a home and injuring an entire family, resulting in the death of a minor. Bailey says this tragedy was preventable and that he will “hold Liberty Utilities accountable to ensure that every utility in Missouri does its due diligence to prevent future disasters.”

Missouri’s Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act requires utility companies to respond to “locate” requests and mark the location of underground facilities within two working days. The lawsuit alleges Liberty Utilities not only failed to do so but also falsely reported that the site was marked.

Attorney General Bailey brings this enforcement action pursuant to Section 319.045 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which authorizes the Attorney General to seek injunctive relief and civil penalties against any person who violates the Act. The petition seeks the maximum penalty allowed by law, mandatory safety training, the appointment of a compliance monitor, and a permanent injunction barring further violations.

The case is filed in the Circuit Court of Lafayette County. The full lawsuit can be read here.