Oakland Ghost Ship Lawsuit filed after Warehouse Fire Claims 36 Lives

An Oakland Ghost Ship lawsuit filed against Oakland’s Ghost Ship warehouse owner alleges numerous people were aware of the dangers the building posed long before the deadly blaze claimed 36 lives in December.

Families of individuals killed in the warehouse are teaming up in a lawsuit against Ghost Ship’s owners as well as employees of city and county departments. San Francisco attorney Mary Alexander, who is representing the families of two partygoers, announced the filing of the lawsuit against the building owner, promoters, and the individual in charge of the show. Oakland Fire Department was also named in the lawsuit as members of the department attended and held a music event prior to the deadly fire and they are believed to have been aware of the hazards the warehouse posed.

The families of Griffin Madden and Michela Gregory, two of the party-goers, filed the lawsuit under the California Tort Claims Act. This Act requires the individuals filing suit to give the government entities the opportunity to settle claims before they are included in the lawsuit.

Many believe the warehouse manager should be held accountable for the deaths of all 36 individuals because he failed to obtain permits to inspect the building and verify its safety. Records show that there have been no inspections performed on the warehouse in over 30 years, and the building itself was overpopulated.

The hazardous trash and debris surrounding the building further endangered the residents. The lack of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, exit signs and emergency lighting increased the severity of danger the building posed. A large number of individuals reportedly died in the building from becoming trapped inside.

Please contact us for more information on the Oakland Ghost Ship lawsuit and the California Tort Claims Act.