Gilman Bedigian wins a $71,392,150 recovery for apartment fire victim in Maryland.

Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland (pp. 1–10). The Defendants named are Dreyfuss Management, LLC and Riverdale Towne Apartments, LLC, both of which are alleged to own, operate, and/or manage the Lilly Gardens Apartments located at 6828 Riverdale Road, Lanham, Maryland. The complaint relates to events arising from a substantial fire incident on May 27, 2022, at approximately 1:55 a.m., when the Plaintiff, residing as an upper-level tenant, was injured while attempting to escape. The allegations focus on the negligence and premises liability of the Defendants, including failures related to fire safety systems, building maintenance, statutory violations, and inadequate emergency egress that resulted in severe and permanent injuries (including a fractured spine and paralysis) to the Plaintiff. Each count seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000.00 against the respective Defendant, referencing both common law duties and specific code violations (pp. 5–10). The Plaintiff asserts no contributory negligence on his part and claims losses including medical expenses, lost wages, and ongoing pain and suffering. The complaint repeatedly adopts prior factual allegations into each count. The record analyzed spans through page 10 with no content omitted.

Document Details

Case Caption and Parties

• Plaintiff: Godlove Djapa, tenant of Lilly Gardens Apartments, brings suit by and through counsel Lauren M. Geisser and Gilman & Bedigian, LLC (p. 1).
• Defendants: Dreyfuss Management, LLC and Riverdale Towne Apartments, LLC, alleged owners and property managers of Lilly Gardens Apartments, with principal businesses in Montgomery County and regular business in Prince George’s County, Maryland (pp. 1–2).

General Factual Allegations

• Incident occurred at Lilly Gardens Apartments, 6828 Riverdale Road, Lanham, Maryland 20706, where Plaintiff was a lawful invitee residing in an upper-level unit (p. 2).
• Defendants allegedly failed to properly register the trade name “Lilly Gardens” with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and were not registered as landlords for the premises (p. 2).
• On May 27, 2022, at approximately 1:55 a.m., Plaintiff was awoken in his apartment by a fire. The building’s fire alarms and sprinklers allegedly did not sound or function, failing to alert or protect Plaintiff (p. 3).
• Plaintiff was unable to safely exit via the apartment’s front door and was forced to leap from a window, leading to a fractured spine and permanent paralysis from the waist down (pp. 3–4).

Key Allegations of Negligence and Premises Liability Against Dreyfuss Management, LLC (COUNT I and II, pp. 4–6)

• Defendant Dreyfuss is accused of failing to exercise reasonable care in property maintenance, particularly concerning fire prevention and warning systems (pp. 4–5).
• Specific breaches include failure to maintain operational smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, inadequacy in the means of egress, violation of Maryland Fire Protection and Prevention Code, failure to warn tenants of unsafe conditions, and failure to remedy known dangerous or defective conditions (pp. 4–6).
• Plaintiff claims Defendant retained exclusive ownership, possession, and control over the premises and owed a duty to keep residents safe from fire hazards (pp. 4–5).
• As a proximate result of alleged negligence, Plaintiff suffered permanent injuries and incurred various damages (medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering) (pp. 5–6).

Key Allegations of Negligence and Premises Liability Against Riverdale Towne Apartments, LLC

• Riverdale Towne Apartments, LLC is similarly alleged to have failed its duties as property owner/manager, resulting in unsafe premises, nonfunctional fire prevention and warning systems, and insufficient emergency egress for tenants (pp. 6–9).
• Claims parallel those against Dreyfuss, including breach of common law duties, statutory violations, and failure to address known dangers or provide warnings (pp. 6–9).
• Plaintiff asserts all injuries were solely from Defendants' negligence, with no contributory negligence, and the damages claimed mirror those stated above (pp. 7–9).
• Complaint notes Defendants have not meaningfully engaged in a fire origin and cause evidence inspection, with the right reserved to bring further claims (pp. 6, 9).

Damages Sought and Jury Demand

• For each count, Plaintiff demands compensatory damages in excess of $75,000.00, as well as interest and costs (pp. 5–10).
• Injury specifics: fractured spine, permanent paralysis, severe and lasting bodily injury, medical care, expenses, loss of wages, and diminished ability to pursue normal activities (pp. 5–10).
• Jury is requested on all issues (p. 10).