An Upper Manhattan building where an elderly woman and her daughter died in a fire didn’t have working smoke detectors or fire-suppression systems, according to a lawsuit.
Longtime residents Warnette James, 73, and her daughter, Malaika, 37, were in their 24th-floor apartment at 260 Audubon Ave. when the blaze broke out on Nov. 22, 2020.
The building, which is owned or managed by several limited liability companies and the Port Authority, had no working smoke detectors, inadequate sprinkler systems and failed to maintain and/or repair the 33-story structure’s electrical systems, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit.
Imani James, who is listed as the administrator of both women’s estates, is suing the Port Authority along with The George Units LLC; The Bridge Apartments LLC; Rachel Bridge Corp; and Eilat Management Corp for unspecified damages.
The Port Authority declined comment on the litigation. The LLCs didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.