Multiple residents who lived in a downtown Los Angeles high-rise have reached a settlement with Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and other defendants stemming from a 2022 fire that broke out while a first-floor Chipotle restaurant was being renovated, leaving residents running for safety through smoke-filled hallways.
Multiple lawsuits were filed. The lead Los Angeles Superior Court complaint filed in May 2023 also named as defendants KDC Construction, hired by Chipotle for the renovation; building owner Grand Promenade; and GK Management, a firm hired to maintain and lease apartments at the Grand Avenue building.
On Thursday, in the wake of the accord, Judge Elaine Lu gave the plaintiffs’ attorneys directions regarding any class action claims being dismissed as a result. No settlement terms were divulged.
The fire started about 8 a.m. Jan. 24, 2022, at the 255 Grand Apartments while the Chipotle restaurant was being renovated. The blaze started when a construction worker cut through an electric main line that distributes power to the entire building, the lead suit stated.
“The horrific fire scorched the first floor of 255 Grand Apartments and filled the entire 27-story high-rise building with smoke, injuring tenants, trapping many in elevators for prolonged periods of time, endangering firefighters and sending many other tenants evacuating through halls and stairwells of thick black smoke in a desperate attempt to reach safety,” according to the suit, which further stated that more than 120 firefighters responded and helped about 60 people get out safely.
Tenants walked through and inhaled thick smoke in hallways and stairwells that also left some hallways completely dark, the suit stated.
Without the help of firefighters, police and other residents who banged on doors and windows, many tenants would not have gotten out, the suit stated. The building owner and manager had the responsibility to inspect and ensure that reasonable safety measures were in place in case of a fire, the suit stated.
Some residents could not return to their units and are incurring expenses above the money provided by the defendants, if any assistance was given at all, the suit stated.
The tenants suffered anguish, fright and horror “by way of living through this tragedy and seeing the fire engulf their home” as well as from watching their family members, friends and neighbors running through flames and thick black smoke, the suit stated. Some also lost valuable and sentimental personal items, according to the suit.