A devastating incident at a Houston apartment complex has led to a lawsuit against the property management companies involved. On December 6, 2024, Kamesha Price-Cook filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, against LCP Banyan Palms LLC, Peak Residential LLC, LCP Property Management LLC, and Asset Living LLC. The lawsuit arises from a fire that engulfed the La Serena Apartments on December 6, 2022, causing significant harm to Price-Cook's family.
According to the complaint filed by Price-Cook and her husband Calvin Cook Jr., they were tenants at La Serena Apartments when the fire occurred. They allege that despite repeated complaints about faulty electrical fixtures since moving in September 2022, management failed to address these issues. "I have electrical problems," Price-Cook reportedly told ABC13 on December 13, 2022. "We are going to get to it," was the response she received from apartment management. Tragically, when the fire broke out, Price-Cook returned home to find the building engulfed in flames and smoke. Her husband was unable to reach their children due to heavy smoke on the third floor. In a desperate attempt to save themselves, their daughter K.F. threw her one-year-old sibling C.C. over the balcony into their father's arms before jumping herself.
The plaintiffs accuse the defendants of premises liability and negligence for failing to maintain safe living conditions and adequately warn tenants of potential hazards. They claim that these failures directly resulted in their injuries and damages sustained during the incident. The lawsuit argues that Defendants knew or should have known about the dangerous conditions but did not take appropriate action or provide warnings.
Price-Cook is seeking monetary relief exceeding $250,000 for physical pain, mental anguish, lost wages, medical expenses, and other damages resulting from physical impairment and loss of enjoyment of life both past and future. The plaintiffs also seek exemplary damages under Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code §41.001 et seq., citing gross negligence by Defendants who acted with conscious disregard for safety.
Representing Price-Cook is attorney Willie D. Powells III from Law Offices of Willie Powells III & Associates PLLC based in Houston. The case is being presided over by Judge Wanda Chambers under Case ID: 2024-85162.