Lewis Brisbois sues developer of building destroyed by arson, seeks damages for forced office move
It isn’t just the city of Los Angeles that’s suing the developer of an apartment building that burned to the ground in a massive 2014 fire.
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, which was forced to relocate its nearby 275-attorney LA office, filed suit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against developer Geoffrey H. Palmer and his company GH Palmer Associates, reports City News Service.
Alleging nuisance and trespass, the suit seeks unspecified damages, contending that the defendants should have done more to protect the seven-story Da Vinci Apartments construction project from the “significant risk” of a fire, whether accidental or set intentionally.
“Specifically, the amount of combustible material at the Da Vinci Apartments, including the wood framing, was a fire hazard that allowed for a sufficient amount of radiant heat, smoke and energy to travel across and damage LBBS offices,” the complaint says, among other allegations.
Fire-facing windows of Lewis Brisbois were blown out, Mashable reported at the time, and the law firm’s sign was warped by the intense heat. Mashable included a photo of the building in their coverage.
The Palmer company didn’t immediately respond to a City News Service request for comment.
Taxi driver Dawud Abdulwali, 57, has been charged with setting the fire, and is awaiting trial on two felony arson counts, City News Service reports.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Los Angeles sues developer for $20M, says building was unprotected against fire caused by arson”
Los Angeles Business Journal: “Largest L.A. Law Firm Relocates Following Da Vinci Fire”
