The Ghost Ship fire two years later: Will massive lawsuit finally lead to accountability?

[TexasTowelie]

OAKLAND — The thick black smoke from a savage warehouse inferno came quickly two years ago, but not quickly enough to spare 36 mostly young partygoers from the terror of knowing they were at life’s end: “I am going to die, mom,” one texted; a young couple fell into an embrace, dying of asphyxiation in each other’s arms.

Adding to the families’ pain, many questions still remain about the Dec. 2, 2016, Ghost Ship fire. Most of them focus on how an artists’ collective in a Fruitvale neighborhood warehouse thrived for years without any city inspections, despite frequent visits there by police and firefighters to deal with problems. Upwards of 20 people lived there, often renting it out for parties, and even an orgy.

But answers could soon be coming as a massive lawsuit involving more than 80 plaintiffs against Oakland, PG&E and warehouse owner Chor Ng lurches through Alameda Superior Court before Judge Brad Seligman.

In what one legal expert called “a very significant setback” for the city, the California Supreme Court last month declined to hear an appeal of Seligman’s decision in May to let the case go to trial, rejecting Oakland’s argument that it is immune from liability from the fire.

Read more: https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/02/the-ghost-ship-fire-two-years-later-will-massive-lawsuit-finally-lead-to-accountability/

[Old Crank]

1. Having been a fire inspector....

I was appalled at the violations in that structure. Evidently there were some inspections in the building but they were signed off by Oakland FD without even looking to see if corrections were made.

If that is indeed the case every person who signed off the violations has to be fired and sent to jail. Job one as a fire inspector is to make sure people can get out of harms way. Job two is trying to make sure people won't have to get out of harms way.

Total failure all around.