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An artist is suing NorthWestern Energy for artwork lost in the March 5, 2009 explosion in downtown Bozeman.

Shirley Cleary's paintings were on consignment at the Montana Trails Gallery when it was destroyed in the explosion. The area near the gallery was the epicenter of the blast, which was traced to a natural gas service line behind the gallery. The gallery's manager, Tara Reistad Bowman, was killed in the explosion.

Cleary filed a lawsuit Wednesday. She is seeking $8,745 in compensation for her lost artwork.

Cleary's lawsuit is one of more than a dozen that have been filed against NorthWestern Energy. So far, several businesses impacted by the blast, Bowman's family and an insurance company have filed lawsuits against NorthWestern Energy.

The lawsuits against the utility company are not expected to go to trial until 2011.

While many claim NorthWestern Energy is to blame for the explosion, the utility company has said it is not responsible. After the blast, NorthWestern CEO Bob Rowe said the company's evidence suggests that "external forces" caused the natural gas line behind Montana Trails Art Gallery to crack, which led to a significant gas leak and then the explosion.

(Associated Press reports contributed to this story)