Opinion ID: 1038281
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: A fire escape ladder must be in place

Text: for a second means of egress. Id. ¶ 68. On April 25, 2006, Angelotti purportedly allowed the apartment to pass inspection, even though it still lacked a third-floor fire escape ladder. We will also assume the apartment lacked a third-floor smoke detector, although the complaint is inconsistent regarding such allegations. 3 Angelotti then purportedly allowed the apartment to pass annual inspections in 2007, 2009, and 2010. Plaintiffs assert Angelotti inspected the apartment on March 24th and March 31st of 2009. A HACE Inspection Checklist lists various categories for inspection. On the 2009 Checklist, next 3 At one point in the complaint, plaintiffs state that at the time of the fire, “upon information and belief, the third floor bedroom failed to have a smoke detector.” Id. ¶ 17. But at another point, plaintiffs assert that “[w]hether a smoke detector was installed or whether the railing was secured in March or April of 2006 is unknown.” Id. ¶ 69. We assume the apartment did not have a third-floor smoke detector because it does not affect our analysis. 7 to the “smoke detectors” category, an “x” has been marked under the column stating “No,” and the words “Install in bedroom” have been written in. Id. ¶ 72. In 2010, the apartment was inspected once. The 2010 Checklist has the same “No” indication next to the “smoke detectors” category, along with a handwritten annotation: Install as need replace batteries. Id. ¶ 74. The results of the 2008 annual inspection are unknown, but on April 29, 2008, Kimberly A. Preston, HACE’s Section 8 Program Coordinator, sent a letter to Richardson stating: Please be advised that the Housing Authority of the City of Erie will terminate all housing assistance payments and the Section 8 contract on your behalf effective May 31, 2008. This action will be taken because your housing unit was not brought up to the required Housing Quality Standards. Please refer to our inspection report dated April 29, 2008 (however, if the work has been completed, please contact the office and schedule a re-inspection). Id. ¶ 71. Preston sent similar letters to Richardson after the 2009 and 2010 inspections. The 2009 letter warned that housing assistance payments would terminate effective May 31, 2009 due to the inspection report dated March 31, 2009, 8 unless the apartment was brought into compliance with the Housing Quality Standards. The 2010 letter warned that housing assistance payments would terminate effective May 31, 2010 due to the inspection report dated April 8, 2010, unless the apartment was brought into compliance with the Housing Quality Standards. Despite these warning letters and the owners’ continued failure to comply with the Housing Quality Standards, HACE did not terminate the housing assistance payments for Richardson’s apartment. As noted, on July 25, 2010, the apartment succumbed to fire,4 and Richardson and Henry died in the third-floor bedroom.