A couple from Cabot is suing a Clearfield Township man for tossing a lighted homemade explosive that went off in his friend’s hand, leaving him with blast injuries.

Amanda and Justin Rudish filed the lawsuit last week in Butler County Common Pleas Court seeking unspecified damages from Andrew E. Smith for the injuries Justin Rudish said he suffered at a March 10, 2024, social gathering Smith hosted at his township home.

Justin Rudish said he was invited to the gathering and the two men entered Smith’s garage where Smith casually tossed an unknown object directly to Rudish, according to the suit.

Unbeknownst to Rudish, the object was a lighted homemade explosive that had explosive capabilities similar to an M-80 firework, according to the suit.

Rudish said he instinctively caught the object.

“It was not until after the object exploded mere seconds after it was thrown at him that the plaintiff Justin Rudish, realized the object was an ignited homemade explosive,” according to the suit.

Rudish’s injuries included a left hand blast injury, an open displaced fracture and fingertip fracture of the left thumb, a displaced fracture of the left index finger, nerve damage, second- and third-degree burns, left ear hearing loss, loss of consciousness due to pain and other wounds, according to the suit.

The three-count suit contains claims of negligence, loss of consortium and battery.

Smith could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, March 3.