At least nine inmates at the Ionia County Jail in Michigan were hospitalized over the weekend after being exposed to carbon monoxide.
The incident happened Saturday around 12:22 a.m. Jail staff members were allegedly told by inmates that there was a “chemical smell” and inmates also reported “not feeling well,” according to reporting from The Daily News, a publication reporting on Montcalm and Ionia Counties.
The apparent cause, according to the publication, was a malfunction with a ventilation pipe on a boiler.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with 49 years of experience handling injury cases throughout Florida. With offices in Orlando, Miami and Key West, our attorneys have seen firsthand the catastrophic impact that carbon monoxide poisoning can have on families and individuals alike. The firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, played a key role in passing carbon monoxide mandates in the state. This made Florida among the first in the United States to pass such a law. While there had been laws requiring private residences in some states to come equipped with these detectors, SB 1822 was among the first to address this issue within public accommodations. Thanks to the involvement of Leesfield & Partners and other advocacy groups, the issue of carbon monoxide and its lethal effects was highlighted, making it a primary concern for lawmakers.
The firm has remained committed to raising awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and, in 2024, Mr. Leesfield and Trial Lawyer Evan Robinson co-authored an article discussing ways people can keep their families safe from carbon monoxide exposure.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning isn’t just a subtle threat; it’s the second most common cause of non-medicinal poisoning death,” they said.
Because carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled, it can be incredibly difficult to detect before it builds up in an enclosed space. When someone breathes it in, it can quickly bind to the hemoglobin in their blood and inhibit the body’s ability to carry oxygen. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness and confusion before a person loses consciousness. If this person does not seek immediate medical attention, carbon monoxide exposure can be fatal.
It is estimated that approximately 400 people in the United States die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning every year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Over 100,000 people visit the emergency room annually for carbon monoxide exposure and more than 14,000 people are hospitalized every year.
“Every casualty from carbon monoxide poisoning has been unnecessary,” Mr. Leesfield said previously. “We have successfully represented numerous victims of carbon monoxide poisoning for 48 years and fought hard for the passage of Senate Bill 1822.”
Previous Carbon Monoxide Cases
The firm obtained over $11 million for a woman exposed to carbon monoxide while at a resort.
While representing an Iowa family exposed to carbon monoxide while staying at a Key west hotel, Leesfield & Partners attorneys obtained a $1.4 million settlement for the family. Luckily, in that case, the family was able to call for emergency services before passing out from breathing in the poisonous gas.
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.
Carbon Monoxide 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 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 Burn and Explosion Injuries
Leesfield & Partners 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.