COLUMBIA, S.C. — A lawsuit has been filed by a family residing at Colony Apartments in Columbia, South Carolina, against the property’s owners and management, alleging negligence in maintaining safe living conditions. The plaintiffs, Markell Marshall and Regina Anderson, along with their two children, claim they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning which necessitated hospital treatment.
Colony Apartments, located on West Beltline Boulevard in North Columbia, provides low-income housing with the assistance of Section 8 vouchers. However, recent events have brought to light significant safety concerns affecting the residents.
In December of 2022, the apartment complex experienced a severe water main break that left over 200 residents without heat or running water. This incident led to a mass evacuation, highlighting the precarious conditions under which many residents were living.
Subsequent to this water crisis, a city inspection unveiled another alarming issue: nearly two-thirds of the units, approximately 200 out of 300, were found to have gas leaks or carbon monoxide presence. This discovery posed a severe health risk, pushing the issue into critical public attention.
On January 11, following their exposure to these hazardous conditions, the Marshall-Anderson family began to experience severe health symptoms indicative of carbon monoxide poisoning, including dizziness and headaches. Their ailments were confirmed to be a direct result of the unsafe environment, prompting immediate legal action.
The local fire department responded to an emergency call at the apartments, confirming the presence of a gas leak that contributed to the dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the air. This incident was among the key pieces of evidence cited in the lawsuit filed by the family.
Legal representatives for the Marshall-Anderson family are demanding both actual and punitive damages, seeking a jury trial to address their grievances fully. The lawsuit aims not only to compensate the family for their acute suffering but also to hold the property management accountable for their failure to ensure safe living conditions.
As the lawsuit progresses, residents of Colony Apartments and the community await a resolution, hoping for improvements in safety standards and management practices for the future. Many are concerned about the long-term health implications for those who were exposed to carbon monoxide and other hazardous conditions.
The situation at Colony Apartments stands as a critical reminder of the importance of diligent property maintenance and swift action when safety hazards arise, particularly in housing that supports some of the community’s most vulnerable populations.
The outcome of this lawsuit could influence policy and operational changes across rental properties, particularly those offering subsidized housing, to prevent similar incidents from occurring elsewhere.
The property owner has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. Efforts to reach them for comment remain ongoing as the community seeks transparency and accountability.
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