NEW CITY, New York — A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the owners, two rabbis, and employees of Evergreen Court Home for Adults, three years after a fatal fire claimed the lives of a Spring Valley firefighter and a resident. The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for individuals whose property was destroyed in the March 2021 fire at the facility in Spring Valley.
Second Lt. Jared Lloyd of the Fire Department and resident Oliver Hueston tragically lost their lives in the fire, and their families have pending lawsuits against the owners and others involved. The class-action lawsuit is being led by the estate of Freida Edel, who claims to have lost property valued at $13,709 in the fire.
The lawsuit alleges that the owners and staff of Evergreen Court were negligent in their hiring, supervision, retention, and training of the rabbis involved. The rabbis, Nathaniel Sommer and his son Aaron, pleaded guilty to causing the fire while cleansing the facility’s kitchen for Passover in March 2021. They were sentenced to probation in September.
According to the lawsuit, the rabbis engaged in a dangerous kosherization process that involved using a blowtorch attached to a propane tank indoors, without the necessary permits and licenses. Emmanuel Lema, an employee at Evergreen Court, also played a role in the fire by placing the facility’s fire system on “test” mode, causing a delay in the response.
The lawsuit names Evergreen Court Home for Adults, the owners Phillip, Joseph, Jeffrey, and Steven Schonberger, employees Denise Kerr and Emmanuel Lema, and Rockland County, along with the Sommers and unnamed individuals.
It is worth noting that the Schonbergers own several adult facilities, some of which have been closed down due to health and safety violations. However, no criminal charges have been brought against them in relation to the fatal fire.
Attorney Gary Graifman of the Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman law firm in New City filed the lawsuit on behalf of the class-action plaintiffs. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the lost personal property, damages against the defendants in an amount to be determined at trial, and other relief deemed just and proper by the court.
The fire at Evergreen Court Home for Adults was a tragedy that claimed lives and caused significant property damage. The filing of this class-action lawsuit aims to hold the responsible parties accountable for their alleged negligence, bringing some measure of justice to the victims and their families.