City fines house owner $75,000 for death of tenant, violating fire code
http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/John-Tory...Mayor-of-Toronto..jpgCANADA: FOR failing to meet fire code regulations, which led to the death of a tenant, a house owner has been fined $60,000 (N11.95 million) – about two years after the incident.
It would be recalled that 23-year-old Alisha Lamers, an occupant of the basement barely a month after moving in, died in the inferno that gutted the home.
Her boyfriend, Josh Schaefer, narrowly escaped death as he stepped out briefly to smoke when the fire started at the basement.
In addition to a victim surcharge of $15,000 (N2.98 million), the city also slapped the owner of the illegal rooming house in Toronto on 18 months probation – the period which he could not manage or be in possession of any rental property.
Konstantin Lysenko, owner of the three-storey, wood-frame detached home, was given the conviction by the city authorities in charge of such infractions.
The punishment, by the Provincial Offences Court in its August 12 judgment, which was contained in a release by the city, followed the indictment of Lysenko who was found to be operating unregistered and illegal house at the time fire engulfed the building on November 20, 2013.
James Stoops, the Toronto Fire Services Divisional Chief said in the release: “The August 12 court decision highlights the importance for all owners and landlords to understand the requirements under the Ontario Fire Code, and to realize that non-compliance will result in legal action.”
Though Toronto firefighters, who arrived the scene afterwards, revived Lamers, but she later died due to severe injuries she sustained in the building, which was discovered to have violated fire codes – particularly broken smoke alarm – coupled with lack of secondary exit on the third floor.
“We have been waiting 21 months to hear the outcome. Hearing this will be very healing for me,” mother of the deceased, Janet Lamers Moore, said, adding: “It was so important to us to have the landlord held responsible for his part. Thank you again to your staff and to the three firefighters who carried Alisha out.”
The city’s standards committee, GatewayMail learnt, would put on the table for talks the landlord registry issue this fall.
