Noco Energy counter sues Johnson family

WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) - A counter  lawsuit has been filed in a deadly house explosion in Wilson. Noco Energy is counter suing the homeowner, Jody Johnson, claiming the company is not responsible for the blast last July.

The Johnson family has already filed a lawsuit, claiming Noco never warned them to stay out of the house when they smelled what they thought could be a leak.

MORE | Read Noco's answer to the Johnsons' lawsuit

Johnson family attorney, Matthew Beck of Duke, Holzman, Phtiadis & Gresens LLP, said, "Had they responded correctly, Sarah Johnson would be with us today. Four members of the Johnson family would not have been seriously injured."

Investigators say Johnson disconnected the copper line from the 500-pound Noco tank and hooked the line up to a small propane tank that he owned. The next morning, the house exploded killing 14-year-old Sarah Johnson.

MORE | Read the counterclaim followed by Noco

Noco claims Jody Johnson failed to exercise reasonable care while working on the propane system.

Beck released a statement Monday in response to Noco's lawsuit:

"We are aware of the third-party complaint filed by NOCO against Jody Johnson and a propane fill station. The allegations against Jody Johnson are denied. These allegations ignore that Mr. Johnson never would have hooked up a temporary tank if NOCO had issued a warning or properly treated the situation as an emergency upon the Johnsons' report of a smell of gas in the house, rather than treating the circumstances as a mere empty tank situation. NOCO is simply attempting to deflect blame for this horrific incident."