$6 Million Settlement in Chicago Fire that Killed Six Children

November 15, 2007

  • November 15, 2007 at 12:24 pm
    linda says:
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    So I guess landlords better look out. If people have so many children they can’t afford. They don’t pay their electric bill. They use dangerous candles for lighting at night. There was evidence of smoke detector braces (maybe the family sold the detectors or removed them when they started chirping because they couldn’t afford batteries). But it is all the landlords fault and this irresponsible family is rewarded with $6M. Is there something wrong with this picture? What happened to personal responsibility? To blame this on the landlord is just legal garbage. It’s a true shame this happened, but place the blame where it lies. Unbelievable!

  • November 15, 2007 at 2:50 am
    JP says:
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    Careful with your comments there, Linda, you don’t have the full story. I’m from the area where this happened. These folks weren’t welfare recipients or anything and the mounting bills were a combo of medical expenses and large utility increases in the area. Also, the smoke detector didn’t work and had been recalled – it was the management co that was remiss in not replacing it. And have you not heard of slumlords before? Or do you live somewhere that doesn’t have such a thing and you think it’s just an urban legend?

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:00 am
    Reagan says:
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    Who cares JP, what the reason was that they were using the candle? The fact is, THEY were. NOT the landlord. Once you assume the rental, it is yours, and YOUR responsibility. It is the same principle as to why one needs rental insurance vs the landlord’s property ins. This merely playe don sympathy’s. And, whther they were on welfare or not, they clearly COULDN’T afford anything, let alone 6 kids. Should the landlord have paid their electric bill Or maybe their mounting legal bills? Your logic is skewed, JP.

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:18 am
    JP says:
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    Gee, Reagan, so glad your life has been so peachy and you’ve not encountered a time in your life where you needed help. Are you saying that these folks should be punished for having more kids than you think they should? Or forego medical treatment? (it was medical expenses, not legal, that put them over the top, like I stated in my initial posting) They didn’t ask the landlord to pay their bills, but the landlord has a responsibility to provide basic safety measures and take reasonable care – which didn’t happen. My logic’s not flawed, but maybe the plaintiff’s last names have something to do with your attitude?

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:27 am
    Reagan says:
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    Yes, JP, play the race card, it’s the only thing you left wing liberal idiots can do once your outed. I never said a thing about them being punished for having more kids than “I” think they should. BUT, they shouldn’t be REWARDED either. And yes, since THEY had the kids, THEY can pay for their medical care! I’m sick and tired of my rates going up because I have to underwrite an ever growing number of irresponsible peole,led to safe harbors by communist morons like you. How is a smoke alarm outside of their apt. even a factor in the deaths INSIDE? If anything, if others had been killed b/c of that, then maybe. Your logic is certainly flawed!! According to you, all “poor” people, regardless of why they are poor, are to be given free whatever and bear no responsibility for their actions. Instead of 6M, they out to be in JAIL for killing their kids!! Get out of my country, Commie!

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:31 am
    John says:
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    Sure, it was the landlord’s fault for not barging in there every week to make sure the power was turned on and the smoke detector was working. If he had, then they would be suing for invasion of privacy. Or it was their fault for not taking advantage of all the avenues of assistance available to them to help pay their electric bill.

    Regardless of whose fault it was, I have a problem with one of the quotes in the article:

    “This settlement will never compensate these families for the heartbreaking deaths,” Perconti said. “The money will help the families provide for college education and for any future medical expenses.”

    A college education and “future” medical expenses for 6 dead children??? Huh???

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:33 am
    Jake says:
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    Linda and Reagan are right on-point with their comments and I concur with them. Having handled multiple fire fatality claims involving rental property in the Chicago area I’m familiar with the circumstances. First off, a landlord doesn’t “owe” tenants protection from their own negligence, ignorance, or stupidity. Their improper use of the candle in lieu of having electricity is the proximate cause. It is speculation as to whether or not a functional smoke alarm would have made a difference. If the fire hadn’t started in the first place it would be a moot point.

    Chicago, like most large cities, provides smoke detectors free of charge to anyone who requests them. In this case, the victims may have been too ignorant to thinnk about their own safety. Since you put the “last name” issue in play, let’s address that.

    I continue to be amazed at the lack of basic common sense and personal responsibility of some people to reproduce and have multiple dependants they cannot support. They put themselves in a bind and did the only thing they knew how to to. Unfortunately, it cost them their lives. Now, an enlightened Cook County jury award them more money than they and probably their entire family tree could earn in five lifetimes. And the attorney speaks of money to put kids through college. What a crock. I wonder how many other family members are college grads? The beauty of America is that these people may be in this country illegally.

    you raised the issue of the plaintiff’s last name so discussion is “in play”.

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:37 am
    Saints Fan says:
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    Good points, JP.

    There are some very cruel people out there but in my heart of hearts I do not believe these people set out to negligently kill five children. Also if they are staunch Catholics – as far as I know they do not believe in birth control. Should they be punished for that?

    Putting it this way, if the whole building was full of people that were non-relatives, Reagan, would you feel the same? The landlord & manufacturer would still have the same culpability and the same duty towards the tenants.

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:41 am
    MH says:
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    I have to agree with Linda, Reagan and Jake! All I have to say is…8 people living in an apartment! Their money problems did not start at the electricity bills or medical bills. I personally would not be surprised if they did this intentionally. I would hate to think so, but where were the parents when this fire broke out???

  • November 15, 2007 at 3:51 am
    John says:
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    Actually I’m surprised this even made it to trial. Until I bought my first home this year (I’m 43) I’ve rented all my life. Every lease I’ve signed was similar, and they all had these three points in them:

    1. The tenant is responsible for maintaining a safe and sanitary environment. (Lit candles all over the place with small children present does not constitute “safe” in my book.)

    2. The tenant is responsible for checking the smoke detectors and changing the batteries when required. The landlord was responsible for replacing defective ones, but only if the tenant reported it.

    3. The tenant is responsible for utilities. It’s not the landlord’s responsibility to make sure the electric bill is paid (unless that was stated in the lease, and in this case it doesn’t appear to be). Sure, sometimes heat and water, sewer/trash were included in the rent, but I can’t remember ever renting an apartment or house where electricity was included.

    The landlord needs to hire a new attorney, and the tenants should have read their lease more carefully. It’s too bad that innocent children had to die for their parents’ stupidity.



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