AP
May 30, 2008
Con Edison, the target of more than 40 lawsuits stemming from last summer's deadly Midtown steam-pipe explosion, is suing the city and a company hired to fix leaks in the pipe, claiming they contributed to the blast.
State utility regulators found earlier this year that Con Ed wasn't managing its underground steam system properly before the July 18 explosion near Grand Central Terminal.
A woman died of a heart attack and dozens of people were injured when the 83-year-old pipe ruptured, spewing a geyser of steam and mud that flung rock, asphalt and concrete.
But in the complaint, filed Wednesday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court, the utility said that Texas-based Team Industrial Services Inc. mistakenly injected its sealant into the steam system while repairing leaks.
Con Ed also blamed the city's "negligence" for water accumulating near the steam pipe.
Spokesmen for the city and Team Industrial didn't return Calls seeking comment.
