Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993 TAG: 9312090231
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
John and Gertrude Harris and their son, E. Wayne Harris, superintendent of Roanoke schools, filed suit this week in Roanoke Circuit Court.
Carolyn McAllister, a guest at the home who has since married the younger Harris, also joined in the lawsuits that seek a total of $1.45 million.
According to the suits, John Harris suffered a heart attack and the others became ill and almost unconscious because of "extremely high levels of carbon monoxide."
The suit claims that Roanoke Gas had been paid extra fees to conduct safety inspections in the house on Braxton Avenue.
An inspection in October 1991 failed to detect a clogged furnace, the suit alleges. After being called back to the house twice, workers simply relighted the pilot light and left without checking the furnace, the suit claims.
The Harrises were overcome by fumes in January 1992 and had to be given oxygen by rescue workers, according to the suit.
Roanoke Gas officials declined to comment Wednesday, referring questions to public relations agent John Lambert.
Lambert said the company had just received copies of the lawsuits and had not had time to fully investigate the charges.
But according to a preliminary review, Lambert said, Roanoke Gas maintains it "followed company procedures correctly."
by CNB