innkeeper loses case, fatal fire and smoke detectors not checked

March 14, Poconos. Mill rift inn in westfall township.
Not figure out how to make links work, tried.
Poconorecord.com

http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20150314/NEWS/150319605/

Just to be clear, this was not an "innkeeper" in the way we use the term here. He was a landlord and the property was not a b&b. It was a bar & restaurant with 2 apartments. I really don't think it's appropriate to relate this on a b&b forum.

Individual did not lose the case. The order was dismissal of defendant's motion for summary judgement; judge determined that there was a case to try. Trial has not taken place. Key plaintiff cause: "claiming negligence in lack of smoke detector maintenance, lack of fire extinguishers or alarms and the stairwell exit being locked at the time of the fire". If a landlord locked a fire exit and had no fire extinguishers, hard to see a judge saying "no problem".
The factual issue is that the fire started elsewhere and absent interconnected smoke detectors, victim would still not have had timely warning from a detector in her own apartment.

Breakfast Diva said:

Just to be clear, this was not an "innkeeper" in the way we use the term here. He was a landlord and the property was not a b&b. It was a bar & restaurant with 2 apartments. I really don't think it's appropriate to relate this on a b&b forum..

Click to expand...

As to the relevance to this forum, I think it is just a reminder that we all need to be vigilant when it comes to safety issues. I suspect we here are probably all pretty good at that, but reminders are still useful.

Harborfields said:

Breakfast Diva said:

Just to be clear, this was not an "innkeeper" in the way we use the term here. He was a landlord and the property was not a b&b. It was a bar & restaurant with 2 apartments. I really don't think it's appropriate to relate this on a b&b forum..

Click to expand...

As to the relevance to this forum, I think it is just a reminder that we all need to be vigilant when it comes to safety issues. I suspect we here are probably all pretty good at that, but reminders are still useful.
.

Click to expand...

I agree. Plus, some owners may have rental units or vacation rentals. In any case, there is a lot of concern with the cost of sprinklers and other fire/safety equipment. But it is the cheap and common sense things - smoke/CO alarm batteries, emergency lighting, exit signs, fire extinguishers (present and charged), not locking/blocking safety access, that often rightly hangs the owner.