PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The parents of a man who died in a fire in Portland have filed a nearly $6 million lawsuit against the apartment owners and the man accused of setting the fire.
Batool and Ali Alhaji have filed a lawsuit over the death of their son, Taher Ali Alhaji, who died July 23, 2017 in a fire police say was set by Ryan Monaco, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
According to a police affidavit, Monaco had been visiting his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Mercier, who lived with Alhaji and Jason Miller, and set the couch on fire after they got in an argument and she left the apartment. Taher Alhaji and Miller both died in the fire.
Monaco was indicted on 17 charges and is awaiting trial.
Fire crews discovered one body when they entered the apartment and found another in a bathroom. They also found a dead dog and several dead reptiles.
Alhaji’s parents are suing apartment owner Farhoud Mohammad and property manager Moe Farhoud, claiming the apartment did not have functioning smoke detectors, automatic fire extinguishing systems and fire escapes.
They are also suing Monaco for negligence.
Haji’s parents are seeking a jury trial and noneconomic damages of $5.8 million.
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