Corboy & Demetrio Obtains Order Requiring City and High Rise to Preserve Evidence of Fire
A Cook County judge granted Corboy & Demetrio’s Emergency Bill of Discovery on Monday, ordering the City of Chicago, Lakefront Condominium Association and First Properties, LLC, to preserve 911 tapes and documents relating to the fire that led to the death of John Fasula. Additionally, the court ordered an inspection by Corboy & Demetrio and its experts of the scene of the fire.
Corboy & Demetrio is investigating all possible causes of the fire at 6730 S. South Shore Drive that killed 50-year-old John Fasula on Jan. 22, 2013. Corboy & Demetrio partner Michael K. Demetrio is representing Patricia Fasula, Fasula’s wife and the personal representative of his estate.
The order, issued by Judge Franklin Ulyses Valderrama, Cook County Circuit Chancery Division, requires the City, Lakefront Condo Assn. and First Properties to preserve numerous documents, including all inspections and maintenance work conducted at the building and any photographs or video from the day of the fire.
“We plan to take with us an electrical engineer and a fire cause and origin expert to view the fire damaged building and look for possible causation factors as soon as possible,” Demetrio said.
“The judicial authority exercised today will allow Corboy & Demetrio to fully investigate the causes of the fire that lead to the loss of an honorable man’s life. John Fasula had just performed a heroic act by saving an elderly tenant’s life. He stayed in the building to try to put out the fire and help other victims. It is believed he was overcome by smoke when he went back to help the other victims,” Demetrio added.
Case information: Patricia Fasula, Personal Representative of the Estate of John Fasula, Jr., deceased, v. Lakefront Condominium Association; First Properties, LLC; and the City of Chicago. Cook County Circuit Court Chancery Division, filed Jan. 24, 2013. Order issued on Jan. 28, 2013. Case # 2013CH02209.
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