Latest news with #KatieSteele
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Displaced tenants sue North Texas apartments over fire, demand accountability
Nearly 50 tenants displaced by a massive fire at The Cooper Apartments in June are taking legal action, filing a lawsuit Tuesday to hold owners and management accountable — not just for the blaze, but for the weeks of confusion and silence that followed. "Honestly, every day that I wake up for the past 45 days now, it feels like the first day of the fire," said plaintiff Amy Ngo. "Because nothing has really changed." Plaintiffs say they've lost not only their homes and belongings, but their sense of dignity and trust. "I've already lost everything, but also feel like I can't do anything about it," said Alexandrea Carrera. Now, they say they're fighting for one thing: accountability. "It feels like everyone's playing corporate hot potato," said Matthew Plant. "We have to keep applying pressure so that everyone who was a part of this is held accountable," added Zaire Harris. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Katie Steele, includes 49 plaintiffs. It demands a temporary restraining order to stop any demolition or destruction of remaining property at the scene. "I just imagine a bunch of clowns running around, and the right hand not talking to the left hand, and we're left completely out of the circus," Steele said. The suit alleges negligence, mishandling of personal property and more. It names several defendants, including the property owners, electrical company, electrician and technician. According to the lawsuit, the technician working on a rooftop HVAC unit was unlicensed and unsupervised. The fire broke out shortly after. "I was shocked," said Ngo. "I thought there were more measures in place." After the fire, residents say they were left without answers for weeks. According to the suit, management failed to provide a timeline for when tenants could retrieve their belongings. They say updates were often sent on weekends or late at night. Sam Russell said he received an email late one evening informing him his belongings would be discarded, including items from his late mother. "There must be something better than just shooting me a phantom, ghost-written email at 9:30 p.m. on a Thursday telling me my apartment was a total loss," Russell said. "Because it wasn't a total loss on June 27." When some tenants were eventually allowed back in, the lawsuit claims they were first required to sign a waiver. After that, they had just four hours to collect whatever remained. "Four hours with four people to take their whole lives out," Steele said. "Just add insult to injury." The suit is seeking more than $1 million in damages to cover personal losses, relocation expenses and emotional distress. But for many, the money isn't the point. "It's the principle," Russell said. "Money means nothing." "So far, this has been inhumane," added plaintiff Ernesto Almazan. "We just want them to make things right." A spokesperson for The Cooper said Tuesday they are reviewing the allegations and are unable to comment at this time. Another Fort Worth attorney tells CBS News Texas that a second lawsuit with 61 additional plaintiffs is expected to be filed in the coming days.
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Tenants say Gov. Abbott's request for disaster declaration for Fort Worth apartment fire "better than nothing"
Just over three weeks since the fire, the Cooper apartment complex still stands charred and empty. Tenants say they're left in limbo as they wait for guidance, but help may finally be on the way if Gov. Greg Abbott's newest request for assistance is approved. "We've all just been forced to fend for ourselves and figure it out," said tenant Michael Wixson. It took more than 160 firefighters and 60 response units to contain the fire, which displaced over 800 people. Most are without homes, without answers, and without access to their belongings. The most heavily damaged parts of the complex are still off limits. Wixson said the time since the fire has felt unbearable. "It's like a slow torture," he said. Many tenants are now banding together to take legal action, represented by attorney Katie Steele. "Making people whole, that's the primary thing," Steele said. "People lost things that are irreplaceable." Now it's clear the state is beginning to take notice. Abbott has formally requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. If approved, it would open the door to low-interest federal loans for those directly impacted by the fire. These loans could help residents cover costs like replacing belongings, relocating, paying insurance deductibles and more. "The devastation caused by the Fort Worth apartment fire has left many Texans facing significant loss and hardship," Abbott said in a statement. "This disaster declaration from the SBA will help ensure those affected have access to the critical resources they need to recover and rebuild." Tenants said that while it's a step in the right direction, the funds would still be just a loan. "I guess it's better than nothing," Wixson said. Steele argues that many tenants, already dealing with the physical and emotional toll of losing their homes, deserve more. "It's just a loan, and they are now going to be on the hook to repay that. It's not a lot. It's just not a lot to the people who lost everything," she said. If the disaster request is approved, residents could begin applying for assistance in the coming weeks. In the meantime, many are still staying with relatives, friends or in hotels.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Towcester Community Larder to hand out leftover Silverstone food
More than eight tonnes of leftover food from the British Grand Prix have been saved from landfill and are to be given out to local Community Larder will distribute the food collected from Silverstone Circuit at an event on Islington Road from 18:00 is the fifth year that the larder has organised a "food rescue" mission, with about 500 people taking advantage of last year's Steele from the larder said the event was free and "open to everyone", but prioritised those in hardship as well as school, council and social housing networks. Ms Steele told BBC Radio Northampton's Liz Jeeves: "For a scale of a pop-up like this, we really need to open it up to everyone to make sure that the food goes out instead of being wasted."The leftovers have been collected by a team of food-hygiene trained volunteers before being sorted and stored ahead of the pop-up event. The food is taken from caterers who operated at the Grand Prix. Last year it included fruit, vegetables, pastries and cold meatsThe first rescue mission four years ago involved just two cars but Ms Steele said the scale of the operation had "massively, massively increased".She said: "It's definitely changed a lot over those four years, but hopefully we've got better at it."We've got a bigger team that goes and we can make the most [of it] and get as much as we possibly can without any going in the bin."Queues are expected at the pop-up event, and Towcester Community Larder said it would share updates on its Facebook larders exist to reduce unsold food and pass it on to members who pay a small subscription. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
