EDWARDSVILLE – A man's family has filed a lawsuit against the landlords of a Granite City apartment after he died when the building caught on fire.
Plaintiff Theresa Burnett, acting as special administrator for the Estate of Kyle Francis, filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Dillon Smith, Jeff Hatten, Kathleen Smith and John Doe, each individually and as trustees of the 2437 East. 23rd Street Trust, citing negligence.
According to the lawsuit, on Dec. 16, 2021, Francis was on the premises of an apartment building located at 2437 East. 23rd Street in Granite City when a fire broke out on the first floor.
The complaint claims the building did not have smoke detectors installed throughout the apartments and stairwells, and did not have a fire safety policy in place. The defendants are also accused of failing to properly ventilate the apartment building, failing to comply with proper building codes, failing to provide proper ingress and egress routes, failing to provide fire extinguishers and renting the apartment in an unsafe condition.
The lawsuit claims that during the fire, Francis sustained injuries which caused him to experience pain, suffering and ultimately death. His next of kin claim that they have endured pain, suffering and loss of his support and companionship.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. She is represented in this case by attorney Randall P. Steel of Steele Law Offices, LLC in Glen Carbon.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 2023LA000670