Police are citing carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause of death for four people, including two children, who were found inside a Marion County home Friday, Feb. 6.
The bodies were found Friday night after police were called out to the home on Banyan Track Way for a wellness check, according to reporting from NBC 6 South Florida.
No official cause of death has been released by the coroner’s office. Police did tell reporters that no foul play is suspected and that they believed the family had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Additional information, including the names and ages of those inside the home, was not immediately available Monday, Feb. 9.
As a personal injury law firm with record verdicts and settlements throughout the state, Leesfield & Partners knows just how deceptive a danger carbon monoxide can be. Without a scent or smell, many families are unaware that they are breathing in the potentially lethal gas until it is too late. For this reason, countless individuals and families fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning every year. In the U.S., 400 people die from accidental carbon monoxide exposure annually and 140,000 are hospitalized.
For the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, these numbers are far too many. Over nearly five decades of personal injury law, Mr. Leesfield has handled countless incidents of carbon monoxide exposure that have caused preventable deaths and injuries. It is his experience handling these types of cases that spurred him to advocate for carbon monoxide safety, paving the way to change state law. Due to h
Leesfield & Partners
In five decades of representing the victims of carbon monoxide exposure incidents, the firm has gone up against resorts, hotels, universities and other lodging places that have failed the very guests who entrusted them with their safety. These cases have gained attention from national and international news outlets and have been the catalysts for state laws and protections.
Carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuels such as charcoal, oil, gas, kerosene, or wood are burned. When inhaled, it binds to the hemoglobin in blood, inhibiting the body’s ability to carry oxygen. Because it can go undetected, the gas can build up quickly in closed spaces undetected. As a person breathes it in, they may experience dizziness or confusion with the lack of oxygen and pass out before they are able to call for emergency services.
In 2024, Mr. Leesfield and Evan Robinson, a Trial Lawyer at the firm, co-wrote an article in Trial Magazine warning people and doling out safety tips. Additionally, the attorneys advised in the articles ways in which plaintiffs and their lawyers can preserve documents that may later be used during a lawsuit.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning isn’t just a subtle threat; it’s the second most common cause of non-medicinal poisoning death,” they said.
At Leesfield & Partners, our skilled trial attorneys approach every case with the compassion, tenacity and knowledge of the law to secure the best possible outcome for every client. Throughout the decades, Leesfield & Partners has obtained numerous record and landmark verdicts for victims and families from offices throughout the state in cities like Key West, Miami and Orlando. This work has earned the firm both statewide and national recognition as a trusted authority committed to holding those in power accountable
Previous Cases
One such case involves an over $11 million recovery for a woman exposed to carbon monoxide while at a resort.
A student who was visiting a college campus and staying at an accommodation owned by the university had to be hospitalized after being exposed to carbon monoxide as the student slept. In an investigation, attorneys found that there was over 200 ppm inside the house. The maximum carbon monoxide level that is considered “safe” while indoors is 9 ppm over eight hours, according to gas measurement specialists. The cause of the leak in that case was found to be an exhaust pipe in from the house’s furnace.
A confidential settlement was reached in that case.
The firm previously secured an eight-figure settlement on behalf of a couple that was exposed to carbon monoxide while on vacation in a foreign country.
“Every casualty from carbon monoxide poisoning has been unnecessary,” Mr. Leesfield said. “We have successfully represented numerous victims of carbon monoxide poisoning for 48 years and fought hard for the passage of Senate Bill 1822.”
At-Home Safety Tips:
- Install a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home.
- Appliances such as dryers, water heaters, and gas stoves should be inspected by a professional annually.
- Some of the things to check for include: ensuring that the appliances are properly vented and are free from rust or corrosion.
- In South Florida, where hurricanes have been known to leave entire blocks without power for weeks on end, homeowners should make sure not to use their portable generators in enclosed spaces like a garage. All portable generators should be used in well-ventilated areas and be kept away from doors, windows and vents.
- Keep air ducts and ventilators clean and unobstructed to maintain proper ventilation.
Previous Fire and Burn Injury Cases
Leesfield & Partners has also represented countless families and individuals that have been involved in tragic fire and electrocution incidents. The firm previously handled a case involving the fire deaths of a mother and her two children. The three had become trapped in a blaze that broke out at their rental home, which was caused by a defective electrical outlet. Despite previously notifying their landlord about difficulty opening windows, the issue went unaddressed. On the day of the fire, the mother and children were unable to open the windows to escape and perished.
Trial Attorney Eric Shane secured a multi-million-dollar settlement for a client who was burned in an electrocution case.
In an explosion case that started from a spark aboard a cargo ship, Leesfield & Partners secured a substantial award for clients who were badly burned.
For a couple celebrating their honeymoon, what was meant to be the start of their happy life together soon became a nightmare after an improperly capped pipe caused an explosion at their accommodation. Both were severely burned and, tragically, the wife passed away from her injuries.
The firm secured a multi-million-dollar for the husband in that case.
In an explosion that caused burns, Leesfield & Partners secured a $3.25 million recovery for the injured client.
Leesfield & Partners secured a $2.95 million award for a family who lost their 13-year-old daughter after a TV set caught fire in their home. The manufacturer of the defective television set was named as a defendant in the lawsuit alongside the distributor of a defective smoke alarm and the family’s condominium association, which was named in the lawsuit for safety violations. The father involved in this incident burned over 30% of his body when he tried to rescue his daughter.
A construction site accident that resulted in burns to a Leesfield & partners client resulted in an $862,000 recovery.
In a fire that killed at least one person due to the negligence of a company, Leesfield & Partners secured a $600,00 recovery.
For a patient who was burnt in an operating room due to the negligence of a hospital’s medical staff. Attorneys at the firm secured a $600,000 recovery.
The firm has also handled other cases involving burn injuries to clients including a child who was burned at a neighbor’s home by stew that was cooking on the stove. The child in that case, an 11-year-old boy, sustained second-degree burns to his legs when the improperly installed range tipped forward on him. An investigation by our firm determined that the landlord’s failure to use anti-tip brackets paved the way for the incident to occur.
Leesfield & Partners secured a $300,000 settlement in that case.
Fire Safety Tips
Knowing what to do in case of an emergency can mean the difference between life and death in certain situations. Below are only some safety tips that may help in case of a fire emergency. This is not an exhaustive list, and everyone should defer to fire personnel and other emergency responders for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
- Come up with a fire safety plan that everyone in the household can remember. This plan should include a meeting spot that is a safe distance away from the home so that everyone knows where to go once they have escaped in case you are separated by the flames.
- Ensure that all smoke detectors are in working order.
- Never allow children to play with household items such as matches, candles or lighters.
- Educate your family about the dangers of fire
- If a fire breaks out in your home, escape immediately and call 911. Never attempt to put out the fire yourself or to
- Always keep fire extinguishers on hand near kitchens, outdoor fire pits and barbecues.
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking as stoves that are left unattended can become fire hazards.
- Extinguish candles before leaving a room.
- Never smoke in bed and keep flammable materials like curtains away from heat sources.
- Take a fire safety course with your family to ensure that everyone gets the most up-to-date information regarding fires.