4-year-old among nine hurt in gas leak at Myrtle Beach area restaurant, federal suit says
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A Myrtle Beach area restaurant is facing a federal lawsuit after a group of people, including a 4-year-old girl, were injured during a gas leak, resulting in an evacuation of the building.
House of Blues Myrtle Beach is accused of negligence, which caused nine people to be injured when a natural gas leak happened on June 15, 2023, according to the lawsuit filed on Nov. 11, 2024, in U.S. District Court for the South Carolina District in Florence.
North Carolina residents Carlton Alverson, Sharon Alverson, Jordan Thompson, April Thompson, Larry Rogers, Veronica Rogers, Tiffany Oliver, Alexis Oliver, and A.O., a 4-year-old girl, were injured when the restaurant attempted to evacuate guests from the building, the suit said.
A call to a number for the House of Blues Restaurant Group was not successful. A message left with the company’s attorney was not immediately returned.
The suit claims that the restaurant had a natural gas leak at the restaurant “which caused a chaotic evacuation of the premises.” The restaurant failed to have all exterior access doors unlocked during business hours so that guests could exit the building quickly during an emergency, the suit said. Because of this evacuation, the nine people suffered injuries which caused them pain and financial loss, the suit said.
The suit alleges the restaurant had a duty to keep its guests safe and from danger and the restaurant “failed to evacuate guests in a swift and orderly manner.”
The suit is seeking $75,000 or more in damages.
