Mom sues sons’ dead grandmother in fatal West Orange, NJ house fire

A Pennsylvania pistillate has filed a lawsuit against the property of her children’s grandmother, who, on with her 2 grandsons, died successful a occurrence astatine the aged woman’s New Jersey home successful July.

The blaze broke out wrong Grace Colby Drury’s location successful West Orange connected July 13 astir 11 a.m., NJ.com reported.

When firefighters arrived connected the scene, the location connected Liberty Street was already filled with dense fume caused by a tiny room fire, authorities said. Inside, they recovered Drury and her grandchildren, Aiden Drury, 8, and Anthony Drury, 3, already unresponsive.

First responders rendered assistance to the victims, but to nary avail. All 3 were pronounced dead connected the scene.

According to a caller suit filed by the boys’ mother, Jennifer Daugherty, Drury failed to support the spot successful a “reasonably harmless condition.” The suit goes connected to impeach of the grandma of negligence, claiming capable occurrence prevention measures could person prevented Aiden and Anthony’s deaths.

In summation to Drury’s estate, the suit besides takes purpose astatine Wertheimer & Sons, Inc., a Montville-based contractor that antecedently did enactment connected the location aft a abstracted fire. At nary point, though, did the workers instal functioning fume detectors, which showed a disregard for spot information standards, according to the tribunal documents, cited by NJ.com.

Dougherty is seeking monetary damages for wrongful death, ceremonial expenses, and the affectional suffering caused by the nonaccomplishment of her children.