Sawtelle v. Mystic Valley Gas Co.

This is a report (G. L. c. 231, §§ 111, 124) of tort actions arising out of a gas explosion in a Melrose shopping center, which substantially destroyed two buildings and caused other extensive property damage. Over one hundred actions for property damage were brought against (among others) Mystic Valley Gas Company (Mystic), which supplied natural gas to the tenants of the shopping center, and Bond Brothers, Inc. (Bond), which had installed the gas main and service connections to the shopping center. 2 Eight representative actions were chosen to be consolidated for jury trial on the issue of…