Lawyers for three residents permanently injured as a result of a Feb. 2024 fire at the B’Nai B’rith Apartments in Wilkes-Barre are suing the apartment and its management company for the careless smoking incident that led to the blaze.
Three permanently injured in careless fire.
By BOB KALINOWSKI | [email protected] | The Citizens’ Voice
Lawyers for three residents permanently injured as a result of a February 2024 fire at the B’Nai B’rith Apartments in Wilkes-Barre are suing the apartment and its management company for the careless smoking incident that led to the blaze.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Luzerne County Court against B’Nai B’rith Apartments, its parent and affiliated companies, along with Radiant Property Management and the alleged smoker who caused the fire.
Attorneys for former residents Barbara Schmidt, Lonnie Zoeller and Jacqueline Cohen say they suffered permanent severe injuries as a result of the Feb. 15, 2024 blaze and will continue to need medical attention the rest of their lives.
The blaze was caused by a second-floor resident who fell asleep smoking, according to the lawsuit filed by the Wilkes-Barre law firm Anzalone and Doyle and the Philadelphia firm Baldante and Rubenstein.
Lawyers for three residents permanently injured as a result of a Feb. 2024 fire at the B’Nai B’rith Apartments in Wilkes-Barre are suing the apartment and its management company for the careless smoking incident that led to the blaze.
While parent company B’Nai B’rith International advertises other properties as “smoke free,” the B’Nai B’rith Apartments at 61 E. Northampton St. in Wilkes-Barre “did not prohibit smoking and/or they did not enforce smoking prohibitions,” the lawsuit says.
The fire was ruled accidental due to “careless smoking.”
The lawsuit further alleges the building’s automatic fire suppression system and/or sprinkler system “was in disrepair, malfunctioned and/or otherwise failed.”
Fire crews from throughout the area rushed to battle the blaze at the 236-unit building and evacuate hundreds of residents.
“Several residents of the second floor were observed in distress and wanting to jump from their second-story apartment windows but were able to be rescued via ladder,” the lawsuit says.
Efforts to reach officials with B’Nai B’rith Apartments, its affiliates, and Radiant Property Management were not immediately successful on Tuesday.
