LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week's
terrifying fire at a Westside Los Angeles apartment building has
led to swift legal action by the building's residents. Attorneys for the residents of Barrington Plaza
Apartments, led by tenant Charles
Agozino, have filed a class action lawsuit
against the building's owner, Douglas Emmett Inc. (NYSE: DEI), for
its negligence in failing to adequately protect residents from a
blaze that engulfed the building's sixth and seventh floors. The
fire, the building's second in less than eight years, shined a
harsh light on the landlord's failure to improve fire safety in the
building.
The damage and injuries from the fire, which injured at least
13, endangered first responders and required trapped residents to
be airlifted to safety, were exacerbated by Barrington Plaza's lack
of adequate fire prevention systems. The building lacks a sprinkler
system, serviceable alarms, and usable fire exits. Residents have
pleaded with Douglas Emmett Inc. for years to improve fire safety
measures, particularly after a previous blaze on October 18, 2013 highlighted the building's
inadequate fire safety system. Still the building owners have taken
no action.
"There is only one word I can offer Douglas Emmett, Inc following another
devastating fire that was exacerbated by their inaction: shameful,"
said Brian Dunne. Co-lead counsel
for the building's residents and a partner at Pierce Bainbridge
Beck Price & Hecht LLP. "This is a multi-billion dollar,
publicly traded company that for years, knew of the danger it was
placing its tenants in – in fact, it had evidence of the danger in
the form of a previous fire – but did nothing. It is essentially
saying that human life is not worth the relatively small cost of
basic fire prevention. That is both sad and unacceptable, and we
hope to finally set things right with this legal action."
Dunne, and his Pierce Bainbridge
colleague, Daniel Dubin, are joined
by Ben Meiselas of Geragos &
Geragos in filing the lawsuit. Dunne and Meiselas are available for
interviews on this case and the years of negligence by Barrington
Plaza's owners that led to the latest fire.
The Barrington Plaza fire has also revived calls from City
officials to require sprinkler systems to be retrofitted into
buildings more than 50-years-old.
The case, filed in California Superior Court,
is Charles Agozino v.
Douglas Emmett Inc., et.al. Case
No. 20STCV03962
If you or someone you know has be
affected by the fire, please go to www.piercebainbridge.com/barringtonplazafire/.
About Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht
LLP
Pierce Bainbridge is a
top-tier litigation firm that is changing the way companies and
individuals approach major disputes. We are relentless, creative,
and aggressive, and we're always on the hunt for strategic and
tactical advantages that can benefit our clients and secure
victory. Our team is composed of the finest trial lawyers from the
best law schools who were trained at the biggest law firms in the
world. We know how to win – and that's what we do best. Attorneys
at our firm have won jury verdicts and settlements totaling well
over $3 billion dollars. We provide
our clients with a high-stakes litigation force to vindicate and
protect their rights.
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SOURCE Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP