$1M Settlement Reached with Building Owners in Fatal Illinois Apartment Fire

Relatives of six people who perished five years ago in an apartment building fire in suburban Chicago have reached a $1 million legal settlement.

Surviving family members sued the building owners, claiming they did not supply smoke detectors, fire escapes or automatic closing doors for apartment units.

Attorney John Perconti represented the plaintiffs. He tells the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald the settlement amount is “woefully inadequate” but was the most they could get under the owners’ insurance policy.

Building owners Jose Ayala and Lucilla Ayala of Beloit, Wisconsin, did not admit liability in the settlement.

The May 2011 fire killed three adults and three children, including an 8-month-old boy.

Topics Illinois