SPS Technologies agrees to settle class-action lawsuit related to 2025 factory fire in Montgomery County.
SPS Technologies, along with its parent company Precision Castparts Corp., has reached a proposed settlement in a class-action lawsuit related to a significant factory fire that occurred in Montgomery County on February 17, 2025. The incident led to widespread damage, prompting emergency responses from local authorities, evacuation orders for residents, and disruptions to transit services, including SEPTA train operations.
The settlement, announced on a Friday by Kroll Settlement Administration, includes plans to establish a million fund to compensate those affected by the four-alarm fire. This legal agreement is currently pending approval from the county’s Court of Common Pleas. Should the court endorse the settlement, affected individuals and businesses situated within a one-mile radius of the fire site in Abington Township would be eligible for various compensatory payments.
The proposed structure of the fund includes provisions for compensation related to unreimbursed business losses up to ,000, property damage losses up to 0, and hourly wage losses capped at 0, according to Kroll Settlement Administration. Individuals seeking compensation must submit claim forms by December 3, 2023. The anticipated settlement also allocates up to .75 million for reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, along with a ,500 service award to lead plaintiffs in the case.
The class-action suit amalgamated three separate lawsuits filed against SPS Technologies by various plaintiffs, including a school bus driver from Abington School District, co-owners of a local auto service business, and a resident of Jenkintown. The plaintiffs allege they suffered injuries and damages as a direct result of the fire, which they claim was exacerbated by the company’s failure to adhere to industry safety standards. The lawsuit specifically cites negligence in the areas of facility inspection and maintenance.
In the aftermath of the fire, which was characterized by a series of explosions culminating in widespread chaos, emergency services were deployed from nearly 80 fire companies. Local authorities mandated shelter-in-place orders for residents within a one-mile perimeter of the factory, followed by voluntary evacuations affecting approximately 250 homes. Firefighters fought the blaze for five days, as the smoke pose ongoing concerns regarding air quality due to the hazardous materials stored on-site.
The resolution of this lawsuit and the potential compensation for affected individuals reflect significant legal and community responses to industrial safety and accountability in the region. As the court deliberates on this settlement, the case underscores the importance of safety standards in industrial operations and the impact of corporate practices on the surrounding community.
