Settlement Reached in Suits over Deadly 2019 Las Vegas Fire

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge has approved confidential settlements of multiple civil lawsuits related to the deadliest residential fire in Las Vegas’ history.

Las Vegas media outlets report Clark County District Court Judge Maria Gall on Thursday signed off on the terms between dozens of plaintiffs and the Alpine Motel owners in a closed hearing.

The resolution comes more than three years after the blaze killed six people and injured 13 others.

Some residents reported having used ovens for heat and climbing out of second- and third-story windows to escape smoke and flames. Several perished trying to escape through locked exit doors.

Records showed inspectors found over 40 fire code violations in the days immediately after.

There were almost 20 defendants across the lawsuits. They included the building’s former owner and companies that allegedly failed to maintain the alarm system.

Robert Murdock, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told the Las Vegas Review- Journal Friday the settlements will allow everyone to begin the process of moving forward.

The former owners are expected in court later this month for a preliminary hearing on criminal charges.

The Dec. 21, 2019 fire spurred a new city “Hotel-Motel Rental Inspection Program. ” City inspectors starting this year have conducted code enforcement inspections at least once a year of more than 30 aging residential properties built before 1981.