COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Dozens of former residents of an apartment complex destroyed in an arson that killed two men are suing owners and managers of the complex.
Their lawsuit, filed last month, argues that owners Howard Parnes and Ted Sannella of Coolidge-Castle West Equities and Urban Property Management Inc., were negligent for not maintaining security doors that would have kept an arsonist out.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants ignored hundreds of calls from residents to police complaining of criminal activity around the complex and that the complex didn’t have adequate smoke alarms. The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages.
In their response to the lawsuit, Parnes and Sannella denied mismanagement or wrongdoing. Their attorney, Mike O’Donnell, said the owners also were victimized by the arson.
“The fault lies with the criminal arsonist, not with the management of the building,” O’Donnell said.
The fire at the 135-unit complex started early Jan. 16, 2007.
Joe Santoyo, 52, and Clemente Perez Salgado, 32, died in the fire. Their families are not part of the lawsuit filed on behalf of 53 former residents of the complex and their children.
Derrick “Nicky” Johnson, 24, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree arson and six other felonies regarding the fire. An arrest affidavit says Johnson was upset by a breakup with the mother of his baby. The woman and child had stayed at the apartment complex.
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Information from: The Gazette,
