Premises Liability
Property owner prevails in suit over kitchen fire
A jury sided with an apartment owner that was accused of covering up evidence in its investigation of a grease fire. Tenant Ashlie Davenport was burned by the kitchen fire while she was cooking. She attempted to use a fire extinguisher available in the unit, but couldn’t get it to work. She claimed that Raamco Texas Properties tried to conceal why the extinguisher didn’t work. The defense argued the extinguisher worked properly, but she didn’t pull its pin when she attempted to use it. The defense denied any cover-up by noting that it would have had to include fabrication of multiple business records, perjury by Raamco employees, and, most significantly, knowing participation by a Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputy.
