Winnipeg High-Rise Owner Seeks $25 Million in Fire Damage Lawsuit
The proprietor of a high-rise apartment complex in Winnipeg is pursuing $25 million in damages, asserting that Rogers Communications and its contractors bore partial responsibility for a fire that erupted two years ago.
In a statement of claim submitted to Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on August 14, East Village Holdings Inc. contends that the August 2023 conflagration initiated on the rooftop of the building located at 221 Stradbrook Avenue.
This area was leased by Rogers for telecommunications equipment, as reported by CTV News.
The lawsuit alleges that contractors affiliated with Rogers brought batteries and other materials to the rooftop and utilized an extension cord for power. The claim indicates that the blaze compromised the rooftop’s water-protection system, leading to exacerbated water damage from subsequent rainfall.
Tenants were reportedly displaced until necessary repairs could be conducted.
According to the legal filing, Rogers had a “duty of care in all aspects of the project and its use of the leased premises,” which encompassed material selection, contractor engagement, and overall supervision.
A spokesperson for Rogers remarked to CTV News that the company intends to mount a response in court. “We acknowledge the difficulties faced by those affected by the fire at 221 Stradbrook Avenue in 2023,” the spokesperson stated.
“While the fire’s origin remains undetermined, we are aware that third-party contractors were on-site preparing to enhance wireless coverage for residents and first responders, per an agreement with the landlord.”
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service reported that the fire ignited around 7 p.m. and was brought under control within approximately 45 minutes. Residents were evacuated, and one tenant, along with a firefighter, was transported to the hospital. The building suffered “extensive water damage,” rendering the elevator system inoperative.
In a separate development, former tenants have filed their own lawsuit against Rogers, the contractors, and the building owner, claiming that the 2023 fire was instigated by improperly installed electrical equipment that had never been inspected, as detailed by the WFP.
They allege that a tangled extension cord, affixed to a scaffold and wrapped around a ladder, overheated and ignited mere seconds after activation. Additionally, they contend that faulty lead-acid batteries stored on the roof were contributory factors to the fire.
The former tenants assert they incurred significant loss of property, increased insurance costs, and additional living expenses after being uprooted from their homes.
It is important to note that none of these allegations has been adjudicated in a court of law.
Source link: Iphoneincanada.ca.
