The family of the Chase Bank employee who died in the May 28th explosion at the Realty Tower have filed a lawsuit alleging negligence on the part of several entities including the building’s owners, contractors who were working in the building, and the natural gas supplier.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court was filed by the administrators of Akil Drake’s estate representing the 27-year-old's mother and sister.

The complaint alleges that the explosion occurred "after a service lateral supplying natural gas to Realty Tower was cut as a result of work being performed by, at the direction" of the defendants.

The complaint names as defendants building owner YO Properties, building manager LY Property Management, Greenheart Companies whose crews were working in the building before the blast, and Enbridge Gas Ohio, formerly Dominion East Ohio.

"What we're focused on at this stage is identifying every person and company that contributed to this explosion for it to occur, we want to identify all of them, we want to add them all into this lawsuit," Attorney Ben Whitman said, "There are safeguards in place to prevent these things from happening and the only way that something like this happens is if a person or company fails to follow statutes, regulations, or industry standards."

The complaint claims that Greenheart had been hired to remove the utility lines in the building and only had four members of the six-member crew and no supervisor present before the explosion, which the lawsuit blames on a gas line being cut by one of those crew members.

The suit seeks unspecified damages for medical expenses, loss of inheritance, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.

None of the defendants have filed an answer to the complaint.

21 News contacted the defendants and heard back from Enbridge Gas Ohio and  LY Properties.

Enbridge Gas Ohio said, "We express our deepest sympathy to the family of Akil Drake. Enbridge Gas Ohio does not comment on ongoing litigation."

LY Property said, "We are deeply saddened by the death of Akil Drake and unfortunately, we cannot comment at this time."

The complaint may be seen below: