Boyfriend intervenes in wrongful death suit involving fatal Roxana apartment fire

The boyfriend of  a woman whose children died in a Roxana apartment fire in 2011 is intervening in a Madison County wrongful death suit.

Circuit Judge Andreas Matoesian on Dec. 28 granted Michael Macarthy's petition to intervene as a plaintiff in a case brought by the mother of the children, Tiffany Gresham.

Macarthy had lived with Gresham at the time of the fatal fire.

Gresham and Toni Leeds, special administrator of the estate of Sky Nichole Gresham, and Jason Matthew Gresham II, sued Dawson M. Cooper last April. They claim Cooper converted the property from a single residence to a multi-family residence, having installed additional electrical and gas lines and additional stoves and ranges.

Macarthy claims Cooper did not perform the work in a “workmanlike manner.”

The lawsuit claims Cooper did not obtain the proper permits or have proper inspections before allowing persons to reside in the property. The suit also claims that either a faulty stove and range or improperly run electrical and gas lines caused the fire.

Matoesian on Dec. 7 allowed Swansea trial attorney and newly elected Fifth District Appellate Judge Judy Cates’ motion to withdraw as plaintiff attorney for plaintiffs Gresham and Leeds.

Ryan Mahoney, an attorney at The Cates Law Firm, was substituted as the new lead counsel.

John Anderson and Andrew Martin of Anderson & Associates represent Macarthy.

William B. Starnes II of Reed, Armstrong, Mudge & Morrissey represents Cooper.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 2012-L-434