BY ROBBIE SEQUEIRA
Two lawsuits, seeking a combined
$1.5 billion against the property owners
of the Twins Parks North West
building that came ablaze on Jan. 9
and killed 17 people, have been moved
to Manhattan federal court, according
to fi lings.
The causes of action fi led originally
in Bronx Supreme Court, were removed
by a pair of Dechert lawyers representing
building owner Bronx Park
Phase III Preservation — a consortium
that includes Belveron Partners, the
LIHC Investment Group and The Camber
Property Group — which bought
the property from real estate mogul Rubin
Schron’s Cammeby’s International
Group Inc. in 2019.
All four entities, including the previous
building owners, Cammeby’s International
Group, are named as defendants
in the two fi lings, with claimants
alleging that both previous and current
owners ignored a slew of residential
concerns at the 19-story high-rise, including
failures to adequately fi re proof
the facility, to inspect the premises and
to allow for proper modes of egress.
One suit, a class action fi led by experienced
fi re litigation attorneys from
Ronemus & Vilensky in Manhattan,
said the plaintiffs were seeking ”costs
and disbursements” of more than $1
billion. The second suit, fi led by Edelman,
Krasin & Jaye partner Paul Edelman
on behalf of Gambian tenant Hullamatou
Ceesay, sought punitive and
exemplary damages of $500 million, according
to the fi ling.
Throughout its 123 building portfolio,
Bronx Park Phase III Preservation
LLC has a total of 11,801 residential
units, but within just the last three
years had received 2,468 heat and hot
water complaints submitted to the
city’s 311 service, according to NYCbased
tenant-organizing service Just-
Fix NYC. Before the Jan. 9 fi re, there
were 18 open violations against the
property, with 174 total violations levied
since new ownership took over in
2020, records fi led with the city Department
of Housing Preservation and Development
show.
A third lawsuit, fi led by husband
and wife Rosa Reyes and Felix Martinez,
who are seeking $1 billion and
compensatory damages for alleged negligence
and another $2 billion in punitive
damages on behalf of themselves
and others affected by the fi re, remains
in Bronx Supreme Court as of Monday.
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 20 JAN. 28-FEB. 3, 2022 BTR
Property owners of Twin Parks North West are now facing three separate lawsuits over the
Jan. 9 fi re that killed 17. Photo | Adrian Childress
Two Bronx fi re lawsuits
headed to federal court
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