L.A. files $20-million lawsuit against Da Vinci Apartments developer over huge downtown fire

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More than 200 firefighters work to control a massive fire as it destroys a seven-story building under construction in downtown Los Angeles. (MARIANA ROSALES / EPA)

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A staircase to nowhere sits by itself after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Dec. 8 leveled an apartment tower under construction. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Arson investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on scene to conduct an investigation into December’s Da Vinci apartment complex fire. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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An elevated view of all that is left of the 1.3 million-square-foot Da Vinci apartment complex that was destroyed by fire in December. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Traffic flows along the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles next to the remains of what was to be the Da Vinci apartment complex that was destroyed by fire in December. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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A massive fire engulfs a apartment building construction site near downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Nancy Yuille / Associated Press)

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A crane begins to tear down the seven-story Da Vinci apartment complex. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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The smoldering ruins of the Da Vinici building. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Work crews walk past a still-smoldering construction site after it was destroyed in an early morning fire. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Investigators outside a building that was partially destroyed in an early morning fire next to the 110 Freeway. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Arson investigators survey the scene after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Caltrans workers remove signs over the 110 Freeway after a massive fire at a nearby apartment complex project on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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A firefighter hoses down hot spots after battling a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex under construction on Temple Street and Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Arson investigators and an ATF agent, center, walk along the 110 Freeway near the site of the blaze on Dec. 8. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters spray water on hot spots after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles in December. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The extreme heat from the fire melted a nearby parking sign. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters look out from the shattered windows of a nearby office building damaged by the morning blaze. The huge L.A. fire that engulfed an apartment tower over an area the size of a city block is being treated as a criminal fire. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter looks at the twisted metal that used to be scaffolding surrounding an apartment complex under construction brought down by a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Dec. 8. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A burnt palm tree is all that if left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles in December. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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As freeway traffic passes by, smoke rises from the scene of a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Blown-out windows are seen on the Lewis Brisbois Building on Dec. 8 as smoke lingers after a massive fire at a nearby apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Firefighters stand on the 110 Freeway on Dec. 8 after battling a massive fire at the nearby Da Vinci apartment complex under construction on Temple Street and Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Firefighters tackle the remnants of a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex project downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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A stairwell is all that remains standing Dec. 8 as firefighters work on subduing a blaze at an apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Firefighters battle a blaze at a construction site on 7th street near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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Firefighters tackle a fire at a construction site on 7th street near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

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CalTrans crews begin the clean up process on the 110 Freeway after a massive fire that engulfed an apartment tower under construction left freeways signs damaged and debris scattered across lanes. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Parts of scaffolding are all that is left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Parts of scaffolding are all that is left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles engulfed an apartment tower under construction. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters hose down hot spots after battling a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoke lingers on Dec. 8 after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles engulfed an apartment tower under construction. (Patrick T. Fallon / For the Times)

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Firefighters spray water on the remnants of a structure fire in downtown Los Angeles. The building was completely destroyed and the intense heat heavily damaged two nearby buildings while also forcing the closure of Interstate 110. (PAUL BUCK / EPA)

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Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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Firefighters work to put out flames at an apartment complex under construction in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)

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A fire lights the night sky near the 110 and 101 freeways in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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Firefighters deal with heavy smokes as they battle a blaze in the 900 block of Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8. (Patrick J. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)

By Joseph SernaStaff Writer

Feb. 18, 2016 2:25 PM PT

The Los Angeles city attorney has filed a $20-million lawsuit against the developer of the downtown Da Vinci Apartments project, claiming its negligence was responsible for the damage caused by a massive 2014 fire at the project construction site.

The Dec. 8 fire destroyed the 75,000-square foot, seven-story complex alongside the 110 Freeway.

The blaze forced the closure of the freeway and the intense heat cracked at least 160 windows at the headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Investigators eventually arrested Dawud Abdulwali, a 56-year-old taxi driver, in connection with the fire. He does not appear to have any connection to the developer or the apartments he allegedly destroyed, officials said. He has pleaded not guilty.

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The lawsuit, filed Thursday, claims the project developer, Geffrey H. Palmer, and his company, GH Palmer Associates, failed to have an appropriate fire protection plan. The suit claims the developer failed to compartmentalize construction, install fire walls or doors on the property or have an appropriate water supply to fight a fire. It also failed to provide security to prevent a person from going on the property and burning it down, the lawsuit claims.

“We’re fighting to fully compensate the city’s taxpayers for the losses we allege could have been avoided had this massive building incorporated key safety measures and been better constructed,” City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement.

According to the suit, when the project caught fire and flames engulfed the wood framing, it “generated a giant blaze, large plumes of smoke, a rain of ash and soot, and melting heat.”

Nearby city properties suffered an estimated $80 million in damage from the fire and the water used to extinguish it, officials claim. The city’s insurance policy only covered $61.9 million of the damage, the suit claims.

The city is asking to be reimbursed by the developer for the rest of the money.

GH Palmer Associates was not immediately available for comment.

From its inception, the 526-unit Da Vinci project was controversial.

Its Italianate architecture, experts said, stood in awkward contrast to the surrounding buildings. The company also designed the Orsini on North Figueroa Street and the Visconti on West 3rd Street, both near the intersections of the 110 and 101 freeways.

The Da Vinci project called for a pedestrian bridge to neighboring complexes that, depending on one’s interpretation, insulated its residents from the homeless on the street or provided convenient access to downtown attractions.

After a debate, the bridge was ultimately approved by the L.A. City Council.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

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