Residents of Palisades Fire Lawsuit Against City and State
Almost a year after the tragic Palisades fire, frustrations are still high. The residents most affected have now filed a lawsuit against local and state authorities, accusing them of “a complete and multi-layered failure by government.”
Sherry Sykes, whose 32-year-old son tragically perished in the blaze, shared her heartache: “I would do anything for my baby. Rory was my miracle child.” She vividly recalls the frightful morning of January 7, 2025, when the fire began to spread. Embers landed on the guesthouse where Rory, a former child actor with cerebral palsy, was staying.
“I dashed up the driveway, burned my hair off trying to get the hose out, but no water came out,” Sykes expressed, her voice tinged with disbelief. “You couldn’t understand why there was no water, could you?”
After seeking help from the fire department, she returned home only to find it was already too late.
“When I got back, there was no body or anything left. It was just shattered,” she recounted.
Stories like Sykes’ echo throughout the 16 wrongful death lawsuits filed in late December.
Arthur Simoneau, a devoted father who crafted his own home in Topanga, had his body discovered near the entrance, suggesting he died trying to defend his property. Some families, like Monique Lasky’s, bore immense losses as her husband Mark faced lasting physical and emotional scars from the fire that ultimately led him to take his own life, as stated in the lawsuit.
“For families, tomorrow marks a tough anniversary. We often view our homes as safe havens. But losing a family member in such a horrific manner is unimaginable,” remarked Alexander Robertson, a lawyer representing Sykes. He highlighted the profound trauma that this anniversary brings to those affected.
A coalition of law firms representing victims claims that both state and city responses were inadequate and that the Palisades fire could have been avoided altogether.
“This is a total governmental failure at multiple levels,” attorney Roger Behle noted. “The fire shouldn’t have happened. The state had a duty to prevent it; once it ignited, the city should have stepped in to help extinguish it.”
Behle stated that he has gathered additional evidence pointing to the state’s neglect as a landowner, particularly in ensuring the Lachman Fire site was fully extinguished. Just days later, the area reignited as what became the Palisades Fire.
“The state had the responsibility to inspect their property, follow established protocols, and close the park to avoid safety issues. They simply did nothing,” Behle remarked incredulously.
Robertson and Behle referenced drone footage from January 1, 2025, that suggested ground smoldering even after the firefighters had declared the fire extinguished.
“A state park ranger was present and captured images, but failed to report the smoldering ground, despite admitting in an affidavit that he witnessed it,” Robertson stated.
A court hearing regarding the state and city’s motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for February 5.
“The silver lining is that I’m not swelling up; I’m not disabled, and I’m ready to start anew in a different reality,” Sykes told the Post, emphasizing her desire for accountability from the state.
