Philadelphia law firm Anapol Weiss has filed a class-action suit in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County against Westover Property Management Company, L.P., alleging that the company failed to prevent a recent fire outbreak at Oak Forest Apartments. Per the complaint, the company failed to maintain electrical equipment and building systems, leading to the destruction of multiple units.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three former residents of the property who suffered significant injury and damages.
The fire began on the upper floor of building G around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 11. Fire crews responded to the scene before 9:00 p.m., but by then fire had already spread to the roof of the building, which soon collapsed. The fire then spread to building H, causing harm to units there.
By 2:30 a.m., the fire was fully extinguished, leaving units severely damaged by fire and smoke. Additionally, the moist environment caused by sprinklers activated in units that did not sustain direct burn damage, along with a recent, extreme heat wave across the region, caused mold growth, increasing the losses sustained by the former tenants.
According to the complaint, Westover Property Management failed to exercise reasonable care in constructing, inspecting, and maintaining the Oak Forest Apartments in a way that would prevent catastrophic fires from occurring. The suit claims the company failed to notice fire code violations and electrical hazards that would have been found immediately if routine inspections were taking place.
“This case involves people’s homes and lives,” said Kila Baldwin, Co‑Lead Counsel in the class-action litigation. “Westover Property Management should have been regularly maintaining the complex to uphold safety standards. Because of their negligence, families were harmed and homes were destroyed.”
Dozens of residents were displaced following the fire and faced extensive property damage, with many units being total losses. Plaintiffs sustained fire-related injuries and loss of property value.
“Our goal is to help the fire victims find relief,” said Kevin Fay, an of-counsel attorney in Anapol Weiss’ mass tort department. “Westover Property Management is ultimately responsible for making sure disasters like this do not occur.”
The plaintiffs seek equitable and monetary relief for property damage, loss of access, relocation, and additional expenses related to the fire.
