Edward Norton’s production company is being sued over last week’s deadly blaze. The lawsuit was reportedly filed George and Erica Cruz, a couple who lived in the Harlem apartment building that was being used for Norton’s upcoming Motherless Brooklyn film. During the shoot last Thursday, a fire broke out inside the building’s basement and caused severe damage to the interior. FDNY Lt. Michael Davidson was killed while fighting the blaze.
According to documents obtained by Variety, the Cruzes claim their fourth-floor apartment unit as well as all of their belongings were completely destroyed in the fire. They also say Norton’s production company, Class 5 Inc., had led them to believe the fire had been extinguished when it was, in fact, still growing.
“When representatives of Class 5, Inc. became aware of the fire, they did not warn the tenants in the building,” the suit reads. “[I]n fact, they misled the tenants into believing there had been a fire that had been extinguished.”
The couple says Class 5, Inc. “maintained certain equipment, including highly flammable equipment” inside the buildings basement, and are therefore suing the company for recklessness, carelessness, and negligence. The buildings owner, Vincent Sollazzo, is also listed as a defendant.
Variety reports the Cruz family is seeking $7 million.
Shortly after the deadly fire was put out, Norton and Class 5, Inc. released the following statement:
“To our great sorrow, we now know that a NYC firefighter lost his life battling the blaze that grew, and our hearts ache in solidarity with his family,” Norton and the film's producers said. “New York City firefighters truly are the bravest in the world. We watched firsthand with astonishment as they charged into the smoke to make sure all were safely out and then fought to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading, putting their lives on the line as they do every day.”
