The Ellis County Press: Waxahachie being sued over fatal fire

Waxahachie being sued over fatal fire
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Editor on 12/25/2003 00:00:00


_Sokoll: City not responsible_
JOEY DAUBEN
The Ellis County Press
WAXAHACHIE - An Arlington law firm has filed suit against the City of Waxahachie
for not equipping its housing authority with proper safety measures, tools,
attorneys said, that could have saved the lives of Wilford and Lala Voner.
The fire occurred at the Voner's subsidized home Sept. 18 in east Waxahachie,
but the law firm, Mallory & Sturns, claim the city is at fault because it
'failed to properly maintain the housing unit' and because it failed to provide
a fire protection system.
The lawsuit seeks $500,000 in damages, the firm stated in a letter released to
the city last week.
Waxahachie City Manager Bob Sokoll, however, has said his employer is not
responsible for the fire.
Sokoll said the city's insurance provider does not maintain a 'direct
connection' to the housing authority, which receives grants from federal and
state agencies for low-income residents.