Children file suit in parent’s death

The children of a Lone Tree couple killed in an explosion have filed a lawsuit against Alliant Energy Company.Neil Pearson and Rebecca Latta accuse Alliant Energy and I-E-S utilities of negligence in the explosion and fire at their parent’s home. The two say a gas leak was reported 18 days before the explosion in October of 1998, but nothing was done. Their mother, 65-year old Mary Pearson, died trying to escape the fire. Their father, 65-year old Robert Pearson, died later at the hospital.