The families of three Baltimore firefighters who died in a 2022 building fire, along with another firefighter who was seriously injured in the same fire, have refiled their suit against the city in state court. The January 24, 2022 fire on Stricker street claimed the lives of Lieutenant Paul Butrim, FF Kenneth Lacayo, and FF Kelsey Sadler, and seriously injured FF John McMaster.
Last year FF McMaster and the families of Lieutenant Paul Butrim, FF Kenneth Lacayo, and FF Kelsey Sadler, filed suit in federal court alleging that the city’s failures were so egregious that it constituted a violation of their civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 under a Monell – state created danger theory. That case was dismissed less than 30-days ago.
The new suit filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court alleges the identical factual allegations, includes a federal civil rights claim, but adds state law negligence and wrongful death counts. A copy of the new complaint is provided below the new video: