Parents Of Los Angeles Apartment Fire Victim File Premises Liability Lawsuit

The parents of a man who suffered fatal burn injuries in an apartment fire, have filed a premises liability lawsuit against the landlord.

Mayqui Diaz lived on a ground floor apartment in the Pico Union neighborhood. In March 2008, a fire broke out in the apartment. Diaz tried to escape but was trapped because the security bars on his apartment had been wired shut illegally. Neighbors tried to pry open the bars, and help him escape. His roommate was able to make it out in time. Mayqui, however, suffered serious burn injuries. He was rushed to the hospital, and died the next day.

The fire was started by a young woman in the building who set herself on fire after a breakup with her boyfriend. The woman died from her burns.

According to the Los Angeles Times, his parents have now filed a premises injury lawsuit against Frank McHugh who was Diaz's landlord at the time of the fatal fire. McHugh is the owner of more than one hundred rental properties in Los Angeles alone. From records, it seems like Mayqui is no strangers to safety violations. Prosecutors have targeted him several times previously for safety violations. In fact, he has had several fire code violations on his record, and has received citations for such violations at least 46 times over the past 8 years.

The lawsuit alleges that McHugh knew fully well that his tenants were exposed to severe risk of injuries and death from the bars. According to the lawsuit, McHugh could have been alive if the bars had not been wired shut. Joining the Diaz's family in the lawsuit is Noe Duran, Diaz's roommate who managed to escape the fire.

Mayqui is currently under a court order under which he has to sell all his rental properties in Los Angeles by the fall of next year. That is one of the conditions of a plea agreement hammered out by his lawyers to avoid jail time for his frequent safety violations. 84-year-old McHugh has had city authorities trying to regulate him for years. He faced jail time in the 1980's, but since then, has continued to amass several rental properties. His record of fire, safety and health violations continued unabated. As of last summer, according to his lawyer, McHugh was the owner of more than 100 properties. These were home to more than 8,000 people, a majority of who were impoverished immigrants.

Apart from fire safety violations, tenants in his buildings suffered serious health hazards like asthma and lead poisoning. There were ear infections, and other illnesses related to unsanitary conditions.

Tenants Have the Right to Safety From Premises Injuries

It's shocking that McHugh was able to continue to maintain his properties, and charge rents even with the kind of violations he had going on in his rental properties. Los Angeles premises liability lawyers often see these conditions in residential buildings occupied by persons belonging to a lower social economic status. These people, especially if they are immigrants, may not be aware that they may have rights under the law and can expect safe living conditions.