Wrongful death lawsuit filed against landlord for North Hill fire deaths settled; related lawsuit pending

Sept. 19--A wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Akron landlord of a home in which four people died in a fire has been settled for $360,000.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Akron in December, 16 days after a fire claimed the lives of a mother, father and two young girls. The suit is against landlord Joni Laidig, who was accused of failing to install smoke detectors in the rental property.

Laidig and Westfield Insurance, her insurance provider, will pay $72,000 each to the estates of the four fire victims, Omar Riley, 37; his partner, Shirley Wallis, 33; Aniyla Riley, 9; and Shanice Riley, 8; and to Shaniya Wallis, 12, who survived the fire, according to settlement documents filed in July and August in Summit County Probate Court.

With the settlement reached, the lawsuit was dismissed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Akron.

A personal injury/product liability lawsuit, however, is still pending in federal court in Akron against General Electric, the manufacturer of the stove in the family's home.

The Akron Fire Department determined the cause of the fire to be food left on the stove.

Judge John Adams is handling both the lawsuit against the landlord and the stove litigation.

The proceeds of the landlord lawsuit will go to the estates, attorney fees and court costs.

Shaniya Wallis is in the custody of a couple in Cuyahoga Falls, according to court documents.

Stanley Aronson, the Akron attorney for the fire victims, declined to comment on the settlement Tuesday, citing a confidentiality agreement.

David Utley, the Akron attorney representing Laidig, couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

The fire in the three-story home at 266 E. Tallmadge Ave. in the city's North Hill neighborhood began sometime after 12:30 a.m. Dec. 3. Two families lived in the home at the time of the blaze.

Omar Riley and partner Shirley Wallis, occupied most of the home with the three girls. Jennifer Grubbs lived in the third-story attic bedroom. Grubbs, 34, escaped the home by leaping from an attic window.

Fire investigators initially considered filing criminal charges against Laidig, but opted against it. Under city ordinances, smoke detectors are required in all Akron houses and apartment buildings.

In the wake of the deadly fire, the Akron Fire Department and the American Red Cross tripled efforts to install smoke alarms in Akron-area homes.

In January alone, 1,000 people called to request smoke detectors. Firefighters installed 3,000 detectors between last July and this July, said Lt. Sierjie Lash, a fire spokeswoman.

Those interested in a free smoke alarm may call the Red Cross at 330-535-2030. A message on the line says a large number of requests could delay how quickly requests are filled, but urges callers to leave their information and promises calls will be returned as soon as possible.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/swarsmith.

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