The Legal Chronicle
Joseph Thomas Tragically Loses life in Scranton, PA Apartment Fire; Two Others Injured. (Fox56.com)
Could the death and injuries from this apartment fire have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the victim’s family and injured victims? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
Local News
An apartment fire in Scranton, PA Tuesday night, October 27, 2020, tragically claimed the life of one person.
As reported by Fox56.com, “[t]he fire broke out at…apartments on Pine St. at around 9 PM last night, with flames being visible from the sixth floor.”
WNEP.com is reporting, the fire “killed one man, injured two others, and forced more than 100 people from their homes.”
According to the report “63-year-old Joseph Thomas went into cardiac arrest when his apartment set fire. He later died at the hospital…[t]wo other people, including Thomas’s caretaker, are hospitalized after being injured in the fire, no word on their conditions.”
Fire inspectors continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
Our Legal Take
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As authorities continues their investigation, premises liability attorneys with The Murray Law Firm question whether a lack of fire safety measures at the complex may have contributed to this incident.
- What fire safety measures, such as working smoke detectors, fire sprinklers and emergency exits, were in place and working at the time of the fire?
- When was the last fire inspection performed on the property?
- Were any safety measures added after any previous inspections?
- Was the property owner aware of any inadequate fire safety measures present prior to the fire?
As details of this fire continue to emerge, The Murray Law Firm suggests that it is possible that the apartment complex failed to undertake proper safety measures to protect those residents and guests legally on the premises. Under certain State law, the owner and management company of an apartment complex have a duty to protect residents and to keep the premises safe. If the owner or manager fails in this duty, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths that occur as a consequence. Should the apartment complex be found at fault, the family of Joseph Thomas may elect to hold the owner and management company civilly liable for their loss and suffering. In addition, any injured victims may elect to hold the owner and management company civilly liable for their injuries.
As insurance companies and unscrupulous property owners are often concerned with limiting their financial exposure in these incidents, it is crucial that the family of Joseph Thomas retain an experienced premises liability firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as a faulty fire alarm or a poor evacuation plan, is preserved and the family’s best interests are protected. The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in premises liability and apartment negligence cases, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise, if needed.
If anyone has information to share, or if anyone is seeking information regarding this incident, please contact us at 888.842.1616.
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