February 27, 2025
Attorneys at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky (Philadelphia, PA), Stranch, Jennings & Garvey (Nashville, TN), Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC (New York, NY), and Levin Sedran & Berman (Philadelphia, PA), are now jointly pursuing the class action litigation on behalf of those impacted by the February 20th ferocious four-alarm fire and explosion at the sprawling SPS Technologies site in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Since the filing of the first complaint, many of the residents and business owners of the impacted area have raised questions about the incident, as well as the litigation against the specialty aerospace parts manufacturer. Below is a series of questions, and answers, from the lawyers at the four firms leading the litigation:
- Q: What is a class-action lawsuit and why was it filed so quickly after the explosion-fire?
- A: A class action lawsuit allows the legal claim of one individual to be litigated on behalf of all others who had a similar experience or circumstance. It does not require every individual in the class to “sign up” with a law firm or participate in the day-to-day litigation. All similarly situated persons are automatically covered by the class action at the time of its filing until the Court (in this instance, the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County) formally decides if the case will proceed as a class action. If the Court decides the case can continue as a class action, those affected will receive a formal notice and at that point they can decide to participate or elect to remove themselves from the class action. The class action was timely filed to preserve evidence and allow the legal team to participate in the investigation. Transparency is in everyone’s best interest, including the community members and SPS.
- Q: How do I know if I’m an eligible member of the class, and if I am, what do I have to do?
- A: You currently do not have to do anything to participate in the Class. If the Court formally decides the case can proceed as a class action, you will receive a notice advising you of such and at that point, you can decide whether you want to continue to participate. You are not required to participate in the day-to-day litigation.
- Q: Are reports/rumors accurate that first responders, including those from the area, can’t be part of the lawsuit?
- A: Those reports are not correct.
- Q: Is there a deadline for deciding to participate – to opt in – and how will we be notified?
- A: You do not need to do anything at this point. If the Court formally decides the case can proceed as a class action, you will get a notice advising you of your rights. At that point you can decide whether you want to participate as part of the Class, pursue litigation on your own outside of the class action, or take no legal action.
- Q: Does it cost anything to participate? How do the law firms involved get paid?
- A: It does not cost you anything to participate. The Court will decide how much the law firms are paid, if anything, at the appropriate time.
- Q: SPS is asking homeowners to turn over “debris” from the fire; is that a good idea? How do we know if our property, air, and water is safe?
- A: We presently do not know what chemicals or substances – if any – are in the debris because SPS has not disclosed what chemicals were released as a result of the incident. We believe the debris should be removed from your properties, but only after there is an appropriate evidence preservation order entered by the court (that has yet to occur). We hope SPS’s counsel will reach out to the legal team so that we can get that negotiated and entered as soon as possible and then get the debris removed from your property.
- Q: What should we do if we think we’re having health issues resulting from the fire?
- A: Immediately contact your medical professional and have them review your symptoms.
- Q: What should we do if we evacuated, stayed in a hotel, kenneled pets, and incurred other expenses?
- A: Save all of your receipts and any other documentation (credit card statements, photographs, videos, etc.) you may have related to your effort to find safety during the fire and its aftermath.
- Q: Now that the lawsuit has been filed, what happens next, and how long might it take before it gets decided and we get compensation, if we’re entitled?
- A: We will begin the process of formally coordinating with both the Court and counsel for SPS, as we conduct an investigation that will include the origins of the fire and safety protocols in place at SPS.
- Q: What should we do if SPS, or its representative, offers us money in exchange for agreeing not to participate in a lawsuit, including a class-action lawsuit?
- A: Speak to a lawyer, of your choosing, first. The law firms who filed the lawsuit are willing to discuss, at no charge and with no obligation of retention, an offer SPS may make to you in exchange for releasing any claims you may have stemming from the incident.
For further information, kindly contact:
Patrick Howard / Phoward@smbb.com
Gerard Stranch / GStranch@stranchlaw.com
Gary Klinger / Gklinger@milberg.com
Dan Levin / DLevin@lfsblaw.com